INTERNATIONAL chef Rosa Fothergill has returned to her farming roots in North Yorkshire to launch her own business.

The 24 year-old, whose career included two years under Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons in Oxfordshire has launched Yorkshire Tea Time from her family's farm near Topcliffe, Thirsk.

She has packed a lifetime's experience into the past ten years, after launching her career at The Angel Inn in Topcliffe where she started as a commis chef while still at school in Thirsk.

Her first big break was joining the pastry section at Michel Roux Jnr's Le Gavroche in London where she developed and refined her skills and got her first taste of Michelin star quality.

Yorkshire Tea Time offers vintage afternoon tea parties and catering for other special occasions. Rosa said: "Growing up on a farm, I was fortunate to have grown up around good food. The farm is where my passion for creating good food started with my grandfather always busy with his vegetable garden.

"He would often bring his fresh harvest into the kitchen and this year I was able to produce some lovely jams and chutneys from his garden-fresh ingredients. Mum is another great influence, creating some beautiful food with our home-grown produce."

Her love of food has taken her to some of the UK's top restaurants – and around the world.

She said: "I have travelled to India, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, in search of new flavours, ingredients and culture. Finally, my passion has led me home to Yorkshire where I am realising my dream of owning my own business."

Rosa was awarded The Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Award 2011 and has been a finalist in a number of competitions, including as a regional finalist in the 2013 Young National Chef of the Year.

With Christmas fast approaching she has baked a number of special treats, including Great Aunt Em's fruit cake. Renowned for winning the cake baking prizes at WI competitions in the Carthorpe area, Great Aunt Em would never reveal the secret recipe to anyone except family and it has now passed to Rosa.

Rosa has the support of Prince's Trust small business mentors. With their support, she travelled to Manchester to sell her products at a food festival and is taking part in a Christmas fair at Thirsk Town Hall tomorrow and Sunday. (28&29)

She said: "It's still early days and I've launched the business from the family farm near Topcliffe. One day, I'm hoping that the business is so successful we have our own premises and I can continue the family tradition of providing something a bit special and unique using the very best Yorkshire produce."

See yorkshireteatime.co.uk