Astrid's training began when very young along side her mother and grandmother in the mountains of Norway. From Bestemor (grandmother) she learned the Norwegian way of cooking; baking; pickling; needlepoint; sewing; knitting and all round general 'home making'. From Astrid's English mother she learned how to create Sunday lunch roasts; Yorkshire puddings; bangers and mash and to eat fish and chips and all things British!
Living in London as a young adult, Astrid's kitchen was generally filled with hungry people always ready to eat one of her meals.
Traveling the world exposed her to wonderful food that she would 'play with' once home until the ingredients and flavours reminiscent of those discovered on her travels.
Living in the South of Spain she fell in love with 'tappas' and Mediterranean cooking. With five children and a husband plus countless house guests, Astrid was always cooking and experimenting.
A brief time spent living in Scotland where Astrid and family had a large estate where they organized shoot parties (pheasant; rabbits; duck; geese and occasional deer stalking) for family and close friends. Everything was cooked in Astrid's kitchen - being raised in a family that believed only in filling the larder and so, there was no room for 'sport hunting' or waste.
Her youngest son, Sean was born during their time in Scotland. He celebrated his 2nd birthday in their new home in Palm Beach. Nothing changed, Astrid's kitchen was a hive of activity with constant flow of family, friends and children plus a few four-legged furry friends!