For Gill Meller, his surroundings inspire his cooking. From the landscapes and the seasons to the community he lives and works in, Gill’s cooking is about more than food — it encourages people to think about how what we eat affects the world around us. In addition to being a chef, Gill is an award-winning food writer, teacher, and advocate for real cooking techniques, such as making a simple fire and cooking something to eat over it as a way to connect with a more mindful way of life. As a teacher at Park Farm, the headquarters of River Cottage Cookery School, he doesn’t only teach his students how to cook, but also how to grow and source their own ingredients. In 2017, Gil won the Fortnum & Mason Award for Best Debut Food Book for his debut book “Gather.” From there he went on to write three more books, earning countless awards and further solidifying his legacy in the culinary world.