Alissa-Christina Smith
Chef
Nationality: British
Chef Alissa-Christina Smith (also known as Alissa)
Whilst I was born in Germany, I was lucky enough to grow up in Southwest England in Cornwall on the South coast. The area I grew up in is teeming with small holdings, tiny hamlets and fantastic village pubs. My younger sister and I were lucky enough to grow with our own horse on our doorstep in a sleepy valley.
I was an avid horse rider growing up, competing in various disciplines all over the Southwest. Horse riding took a lot of my time, but I also found time to be on the school sailing team, which is where I learned to sail.
After school I went to a college to do my A level and cultivate my interests in history and current affairs, but I choose not to continue to university and travelled and worked for the best part of 7 years, starting in India, where I backpacked alone, through the north of the country, volunteering and sampling the amazing food.
At 21 years old, after a short time at home, I decided to embark on a career on the high seas as a stewardess on sailing boats. I got my first position in France and, that autumn I was lucky enough to cross to the Caribbean on the same boat as the chef. I have never looked back and my interest n the culinary arts has grown from there.
Recently, I took my first formal chefs’ qualification at the prestigious culinary school; Ashburton.
I have worked with in and around the hospitality and service sector for close to 20 years in various roles from the bottom to the top and have a solid understanding of how to create a meaningful and relaxing experience for my guests.
I am passionate about sourcing quality healthy food as locally as possible for both the sake of the environment and our health. In the past I have cultivated many Kitchen Gardens around the world and have worked in small and in large scale farming at a grass root level; both in arable and animal husbandry. Recognizing quality produce is something I am well versed in.
I speak fluent German as well as English and am always trying to improve my Frenchand Spanish.