Today we are in conversation with Ginie, owner of local company Pure Brunchbox who can deliver a delicious breakfast and lunch to you in the comfort of The Grain Store during your stay with us.

Tell us a bit about yourself Ginie?

To understand my cuisine I have to explain I am a self-taught woman from a blended family. In my previous role as a language teacher as well as teaching in the UK, I was fortunate to teach abroad. Whilst teaching was rewarding, my first waking thought however remains, “What am I going to eat today.”   I have found that not only am I passionate about food but I have a great sense of peace and pleasure in creating food for others. The kitchen is truly my happy place. 

I was born into a multifaith & multiracial family, where fusion is the norm: my Mauritian Muslim father loves to feast and dance, and my French & West African Catholic mother uses plants and herbs to heal. As the family has grown, so has the range of blended dishes that come to grace our table at any get together. Now when I enter the kitchen, I draw on the emotions to create dishes. I learn techniques through practice, which allows me the freedom to develop different tastes and create my own style. 

What is your connection with the area and TGS?

I returned to East Sussex in 2004 to train as a teacher and raise my children. For me, this small county was perfect because we are within easy reach of historic towns, sea, countryside and the rolling hills of the South Downs.

My connection to TGS came about through my stall at the local Friday food market. Richard and Annie are great supporters of local businesses in general and shop weekly at the market. After a visit on an idyllic summer’s day to The Grain Store, I knew that the inspiration for its menu should be about family and friends spending time together - whether it's enjoying a local walk/ hike or simply relaxing at the TGS hideaway.

How, when & why did you start up your business?

A few years ago chronic illnesses plagued my family and I. Ever the learner I took courses in plant-based nutrition, sourdough bread making and plant-based and gluten-free patisserie, to help manage some of the conditions. 

Last year I made the decision to step out from my home kitchen because I realised that there is a community of people who find it a challenge to find great-tasting natural, plant-based and gluten-free food.

What does a typical day look like for you?

The morning starts with me walking my dog around Barcombe Mills. I use this time to think about what I am going to make. When we get back I will spend time in the vegetable garden. Then I prepare the kitchen, washing everything down before I start prepping. I often lose track of time at this point and emerge in the mid-afternoon. The rest of the day is spent on the business side. On market days however I want to make sure that all the food is as fresh as possible, so it’s a 5.30 start!

Tell us about the different types of food you prepare and sell.

I am a curious person. This curiosity stems from the fact that I like to make people happy through food. So, if someone in my family is saying “I don’t like this or I am allergic to that…” I see it as a puzzle. I especially enjoy the alchemy not just of taste but how ingredient molecules work together, I want to make sure everyone enjoys eating together.

Real food is how I cook. Vegetables are beautiful, I am not a good gardener but when I do get a glut of say …aubergines or raspberries I do a happy dance and cannot wait to share, photograph and then cook them.  In order to explore all the possibilities a vegetable & fruit have to offer, I even go as far as to incorporate often overlooked parts of vegetables such as pumpkin leaves in pumpkin empanadas, to enrich flavour, texture and health. My final word on the food I create is a mix of world food and French-style patisseries - all Gluten Free & plant-based. 

What and who inspires you?

Ah, the person who springs to mind is a Korean Buddhist Monk Jeong Kwan and her Temple Food. Her food philosophy is an expression of how she moves through the world with harmony, compassion, energy and love. She grows the food in her garden, it is all about sharing with nature and letting it inform how and what to make. Jeong Kwan likens the process from seed to table to an “orchestra”. 

I find her relationship with the world through food calming, and I believe that energy can be transferred into the meals I create. 

What have you got coming up next?

In the kitchen, I am continuing to develop my healthy patisserie skills, with Chef Jordi Bordas. This is going to take up most of the next year.  I shall also bring to life a supper club and a pop-up. These are plans that are all about meeting my dreams. I want to give back too, so I also want to make the most of my teaching skills and do some cooking workshops with young people in care. 

How do people find you?

I have a regular stall on Fridays in Lewes at the Food Market, as well as a monthly stall at the Brighton Open Market. Although I guess the quickest way of getting in contact with me is through my website www.purebrunchbox.com and Instagram @purebrunchbox

5 things you love about Sussex?

1. A visit to Hastings - I grew up there and a highlight for me as always been the sandstone boulders of West Hill. I used to clamber around there all day with my friends.

2. Ashdown Forest - the landscape is such a contrast to anywhere in the county.

3. Wherever I leave the county I feel reassured when I see the South Downs, they are like a gate. There is a walk I like to do which is from Lewes to Woodingdean, there is a pub on route so that which is always handy.

4. I love the fact that the sea is not far away from me. When I go to the sea I like to have peace, so Newhaven beach is where I like to go and watch people fish.

5. Lastly, but by no means last, I love the quirky events that Lewes has, such as the Raft Race from Lewes to Newhaven in July, Stoolball matches throughout the summer and Lewes Bonfire but that goes without saying!

Book a stay with us and order in from Ginie at Pure Brunchbox - breakfast and lunch delivered right to your door!

With the South Downs National Park on our doorstep and plenty of special villages and towns nearby, you really are spoilt for choice. Click here for our latest prices and availability including some last-minute dates.

stay@thegrainstorelewes.com

Article by Pip de Villiers