La Différence

La Différence
A passion for food

Saturday 10 March 2012

A little bit about me

Me on a good day


I'd like to introduce myself and welcome you to my blog. I'm Doreen Simpson known to my Facebook followers as Dor. I started my page on Facebook in 2011 just to make contact with other like-minded fanatical cooks like myself. My goodness how the experience has changed my life. I've met so many wonderful people who have become such firm friends in a relatively short space of time. After cooking for virtually all of my long life I thought I'd seen it all, but no, I have learnt so much through my fellow bloggers. There's a whole world out there of wonderful food that I can't wait try and I'd love you to join me.

Here's a little bit about my life.

I worked for the Midland Bank on leaving school. To this day I wonder why? I was never cut out for office work and I spent a good deal of my time there organising our social events and disappearing to the kitchen to knock up lunch for everyone. But the money was good and I stayed with them for 12 years.
After an unsuccessful marriage I ventured into the cake making world and although I made a reasonable living out of it I decided to go to college to get my City & Guilds and become a chef. It was great fun, I enjoyed every minute of it and never looked back.
I was employed by a large catering company where I really learned my trade and left after two years to start up on my own.
I've run a successful catering company 'La Difference Catering' for the last 20 years now & enjoyed catering for the 'rich and infamous' of the Cheshire set but mainly for ordinary folk like you and I who have something lovely to celebrate.
The highlight of my career happened last year when I catered at a weekend's shoot for The Duke of Edinburgh, Lord Brabourne (Mountbatten's son) and several others of the nobility. I prepared afternoon tea for them, dinner in the evening and breakfast the following morning. It was quite nerve racking and I spent weeks of sleepness nights working up to it, but in the end I thoroughly enjoyed it, the Prince was an absolute delight and such a lovely chap.
Years of cooking & organising events have given me a wealth of experience that I would love to share with you all. If you are planning to start a career in catering then I can offer you any advice that you may need. Also if you're planning a large event yourself then I'm willing to help you.
I hope to bring you a few stories of triumphs and disasters in my career, hopefully in a humourous way along with glimpses of my very happy home life with my partner Clive and my two lovable Jack Russells, Bugsy & Molly.
But the main purpose of my blog will be to share my recipes with you. Don't worry I've got thousands. Trouble is it'll take me years to post them all.

Dor xxx

42 comments:

  1. About time Dor.... looking forward to reading more of your stories and your recipes, even if it does take years!! lol Well done xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi June, thanks so much my sweetie. I'll be boring you to death with all my posts soon don't worry xxx Dor

      Delete
  2. I'm quite a new follower of yours on Facebook and really enjoy following what goes on and all your hints and tips, you've really built up a good community of like minded people , keep up the good work !!!
    Lesley xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for for looking at this new blog Lesley, keep popping back xxx Dor

      Delete
  3. Love following you on FB and now I will have even more to read, so must get up earlier to catch all my favorite Bloggers xoxox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Beverley, hope I don't take up all your mornings with all the blogging I'm planning xxx Dor

      Delete
    2. Never Dor. You blog away my friend xoxo

      Delete
  4. I am quite a regular of yours on Facebook Dor, and looking forward to reading this blog. Have fun with it! :) Lynda xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Lynda, I'm planning to enjoy it xxx Dor

      Delete
  5. Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
    It's been many years since I did my City and Guilds 706-2 and you just reminded me,not a good thing LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much I'm planning to hopefully keep it interesting xxx Dor

      Delete
  6. Look forward to your great recipes Dor and welcoming to the bogging world xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks hun, I've got a long way to go if I'm going to ever catch you up Jo xxx Dor

      Delete
  7. Yes I would love for you to cater a party for me and my 100 guests this evening, now that you are famous, move over Wolfgang Puck!! Here comes Dor!! Love your new blog!!

    Nettie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hahaha!!!! I'll see you later Nettie xxx Dor

      Delete
  8. Lovely blog and your personality really shines through. Welcome to bloggersville! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Holly, I think I'm going to really enjoy doing this.
      xxx Dor

      Delete
  9. My beautiful Dor...you have so much interest in your life and you have forged a path of passion...I love it! Here's to Clive, Bugsy and Molly who get to have you each and every day!! xoox Ally <<>>>

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ally for your lovely comments. It's so very much appreciated. xxx Dor

      Delete
  10. I am so glad Ally shared your blog! I love learning about your beautiful career:-) What an honor to cater for the Duke of Edinburgh, beautiful! I look forward to reading your blog, I just followed you on FB, I will follow as CafeTerraBlog too:-) Take Care, Terra
    www.CafeTerraBlog.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Terra, thanks so much. Yes it was a real honour but I don't think this old heart of mine could stand the pressure of a repeat performance xxx Dor

      Delete
  11. Congratulations, my friend!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yayyy Mia, I did it. all my love sweetie xxx Dor

      Delete
  12. I love following you on FB and now I can't wait to see more about you and your career. Congratulations and good luck! Cheers, from Tassie (Tasmania).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your so kind Janet, I've got plenty of tales from the catering world to share. xxx Dor

      Delete
  13. Excellent news, Dor! It's spreading like wildfire through the FB Foodie World! I've been admiring you from afar for quite a while now, and am anticipating more regular contact :) Here's wishing you every success with your new blog :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ah that's so lovely of you Michele. Thanks so much hun xxx Dor

      Delete
  14. Congrats Dor! I'm so looking forward to following you here as well as FB! -Sonali

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congratulations Dor! I've already benefitted from your excellent advice. Where do you find the time to do all this???Patricia X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Patricia, I was wondering about the time factor myself this morning. I now have to reply to my blog comments a s well as all those on Facebook. It's great fun and fortunately I've had a spare week to organise it. I've a few big jobs coming up soon so I'll be making lots of canapes etc. Hope you're keeping busy sweetie xxx Dor

      Delete
  16. Woohoo Dor! Welcome to bloggy land! Now when you post a recipe, I'll be able to pin it! And share it, and find it, and try it! So glad you got this started!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Joan, I did it at last. Just need to sort out my layout, background etc to how I like it & I'll be happy. Thanks my lovely friend for giving me a kick in the right direction xxx Dor

      Delete
  17. Hello Dor! Nice to see your blogging all those fabulous recipes xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah thanks so much Mandy, I've had a week off this week so I've gone a bit mad with the posting. I'll try to get at least 1 or 2 blogs a week from now on. xxx Dor

      Delete
  18. Good Afternoon Dor - I have only recently started following your facebook page and I am really enjoying it. Looking forward to more entertaining and informative updates. I am but a mere frustrated cook (who loves it!)Your words are inspirational and educational. Keep up the good work!(Please)

    ReplyDelete
  19. That's so kind Robyn, Glad you've enjoyed things so far xxx Dor

    ReplyDelete
  20. I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your blog with good information about Catering Midland for me.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I appreciated your post and regarding this information you’ve shared with us, with regards to catering. Big thanks for sharing and I will definitely refer this to my friend

    ReplyDelete
  22. Facebook is wonderful for 'meeting' people and a good means of staying in touch, but a book, a magazine, or a blog in this case, something handwritten and that is not all techy and electronically based, ok, well a blog is sort of, is definitely a comforting way of communicating and one that I am very thankful for. Dor, I've had the pleasure of knowing you for a couple of years and even being lucky enough to meet you on occasion. I am thankful for your recipes, your blog and your Facebook page. I hope you will continue to share your treats and tales and I hope our friendship will continue for many years to come. Lots of love xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  23. Aww that's so lovely Frankie, having you as a pal has meant the world to me too. Much love honey ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My pleasure Dor, as always. Thank you huni xx

      Delete

I love sharing my recipes with you all...please feel free to comment ..it's great to get some feedback ♥