Padstow Christmas Fayre

Emily Scott brings a sense of coastal magic to everything she does, and December in St Ives is no exception. As the town lights up with festive markets, lantern parades, and the much-loved arrival of Father Christmas by lifeboat, Emily celebrates the season through food that reflects her deep connection to Cornwall’s landscape and community. For her, winter is about more than just ingredients — it’s about twinkling harbour lights, bracing walks, cosy pubs, and the joy of coming together around the table at one of the most enchanting times of the year.

Paul Ainsworth is one of Cornwall’s most dynamic chefs and restaurateurs, best known for his Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at No6 in Padstow. After training under Gary Rhodes, Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing in London, Paul and his wife Emma built a thriving family of restaurants and hotels in Cornwall, including Caffè Rojano, The Mariners Public House and Padstow Townhouse. Alongside awards such as Restaurateur of the Year and the Chef Award at The Cateys, Paul is also a published author and TV regular, with his debut cookbook For the Love of Food released in 2024. Passionate about hospitality, community and mentoring the next generation, Paul continues to be a leading figure in the Cornish and UK food scene.

Isabel (Izzy) Joselyne is the talented Head Chef at Prawn on the Lawn in Padstow, bringing creativity and precision to her seafood-led cooking. At just 26, she has already worked in some of the UK’s and world’s most respected kitchens, including Emily Scott Food, Rick Stein, The Scarlet Hotel, and Calypso Grill in Grand Cayman. Passionate about fresh, local ingredients and inspired by the Cornish coast, Izzy is fast gaining recognition as one of the region’s rising stars, recently shortlisted for Best Chef in the Trencherman Awards.

Rick Stein is a British chef, restaurateur, author, and television presenter, renowned for his love of fresh, simply cooked seafood. Over a career spanning decades, he has written more than 30 cookery books, presented over 30 TV programmes, and built the Rick Stein Group into a thriving business of restaurants, hotels, shops, and a cookery school across the UK and Australia. Awarded a CBE in 2018 for services to the economy, Rick remains at the helm of his business while continuing to share his passion for food, travel, and teaching, with series including Rick Stein’s Cornwall, Secret France, and Road to Mexico.