Meet expert chef & tutor Carmela Hayes

Meet expert chef & tutor at the Yorkshire wolds cookery school Carmela Hayes

Carmela Sophia Sereno (Hayes) of Southern Italian descent, was born in Bedford and present-day Carmela lives happily in a small Northamptonshire village with her four children and husband.

Sharing her love of Italian food, Carmela is an Italian cookery author of 5 books:

• Southern Italian Family Cooking
• A Passion for Pasta
• Northern & Central Italian Family Cooking
• How to make Pasta
• Pasta Fresca

Carmela works as a food writer, she writes a monthly food column for her local newspaper ‘The Chronicle & Echo’, cookery tutor, demonstrator, cookery event planner, recipe developer, pastaia and runs incredibly successful supper clubs sponsored by Filippo Berio Olive Oil company at the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery.

Carmela is a proud ambassador for both the Filippo Berio brand and the pasta tool company Marcato. Carmela is currently running demonstrations in the Knightsbridge store of Harrods. Check out her website for a full list of events, classes and much more!

Carmela is now working on her sixth book entitled ‘The Italian Vegetarian’.

Getting to know Carmela:

Carmela has been coming to the Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School for several years now running her popular Italian cookery courses here in the Yorkshire Wolds. We asked her few questions so that you can know her a little better before you book onto one of her courses:

When did you decide to become a chef?

About 14 years ago! I was a chiropodist and decided I’d had enough of feet 😂 so decided to share my heritage and love of Italian cookery.

What is your earliest memory of food?

We ate at 6pm every evening together as a family, from when I was a little girl, to when I left home and everything my mum would cook was my favourite. But as a child it was most certainly pastina. A tiny pasta shape cooked in fresh stock and served with love. Mum would always give me a few slices on stale bread and I’d tear it up and add it to the pastina. I still do this to this day.

Do you have a favourite food?

PASTA! Always pasta and my most favourite is my mums pork and beef lasagna, layered with tomato sugo, mozzarella, boiled eggs and Parmigiano Reggiano. I could eat this everyday if my waistline would let me.

Talk me through your foodie career:

So, I started writing a blog, including my family recipes until I decided to put together my first cookery book, while teaching Italian cookery across the UK. Five books down the line, I still love my job. I’m forever learning, teaching and eating.

Have you had any formal education in food?

Absolutely none, apart from learning from my mamma Solidea and nonna Carmela, oh and a GCSE in home economics.

What is your greatest career achievement?

Writing my first cookbook ‘Southern Italian Family Cooking’ and seeing my dad Rocco’s smile. That memory will forever be one of my favourite memories of all time

Which foods or types of cooking gets you really excited?

Pasta making most definitely. With over 600 pasta shapes to choose from, the making will never end.

Who have you met that really inspired you?

Apart from my mamma and nonna, then without a doubt Gennaro Contaldo. I love him!

Gennaro is a renowned Italian chef with over a dozen cookery books to his name and famed with teaching Jamie Oliver all he knows about Italian cooking.

Have you been to a place that has really inspired you?

Anywhere in Italy will inspire me and motivate me to change, modify and expend my knowledge, this in turn will show through my writing and teaching. That said the south of Italy has hold of my heart, particularly Puglia and Molise.

What do you most love about coming to the Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School?

What’s not to love! Apart from the beautiful landscape, accommodation and glamping cabins, the staff treat me as a full-time family member. I feel the love as soon as I walk through the door and without the best team, we wouldn’t be able to offer the classes packed full of content that we do.

Which class do you really like teaching?

This question is an impossible one. That would be like choosing my favourite child. I love them all!

Have you any funny stories about your time at YWCS?

Oh gosh, now this will get me thinking! I may need to come back to you on this one as we are always giggling.

Carmela x

Carmela Hayes is a regular chef and tutor here at the Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School.  She has a number of classes coming up where she will share her love and expert knowledge of Italian cooking, pasta making and so much more.

Up and Coming Cookery Classes with Carmela:

Italian Sweet Treats and Desserts | Thurs 28th November 2024 & Thurs 23rd January 2025 | £70 | Half Day Class

Italian Christmas with Carmela Hayes | Thurs 28th November 2024 | £70 | Half Day Class

A Passion for Pasta | Thurs 17th April 2025 | £70 | 2 Half Day Classes: 9.30am – 12.30pm or 1:30 to 4:00pm

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