Welcome to Ancestral Kitchen. I’m Alison Kay, a writer, podcaster and teacher. I specialise in bringing the wisdom of ancestral food to modern kitchens in a joyful and practical way.
If you love being in the kitchen and believe in the power of ancestral food to bring both joy and health to yourself, our communities and the world, you’ll find both resources and support here!
My journey to ancestral eating
I realised the power of food in my early 20s when I lost half my body weight through changing how I ate. This experimentation continued and my quest to reverse infertility (a doctor having told me I would never have children naturally) led me to ancestral food.
I’ve now been cooking and eating this way, with my family, for 15 years. I’ve used food to work through many of our chronic health issues and continue to gain joy, connection and health through bringing the power of the wisdom of our ancestors into our modern lives.
I share my love of ancestral food through the hundreds of blog posts you’ll find here, through Ancestral Kitchen Podcast which has over ninety episodes and via the membership community that sharing my passion has created.
What is Ancestral Kitchen?
I’m here to be a source of information, support and inspiration. In the face of our modern foodways, choosing to cook and eat ancestrally can often feel like an uphill, lonely journey. It needn’t be that way!
What you’ll find here
Information
I make practical things simple and clear to you don’t have to be overwhelmed by all the other articles out there. I share historical food traditions to inspire and delight you!
Recipes, kitchen tips and food ideas
Whether you want to ferment something new, bake some bread or figure out what to have for breakfast, you’ll find advice here.
Inspiration
This is the one thing that my readers consistently tell me that I give them. I am an avid reader, seeker and thinker and openly share my ancestral world, providing you with the ideas, support and encouragement you need to keep going.
Where to go next
I put pen to paper every two weeks and write to the 1400+ people that are on my newsletter. If you’d like to hear from me, pop your details into the boxes at the top of any page or signup here.
You can also dive into over 100 episodes of my podcast episodes here.
You can also download my 30-page free guide to Baking with Ancient Grains.
Do reach out to me. I read all the comments on my blog and would love to hear from you!
Learn more about me:
I share openly and honestly. If you’d like to know more, start with the resources below:
My journey, in writing: Come Sit At My Table and I’ll Tell You a Story.
See how I’ve changed: Alison, In Pictures.
Listen to me introduce myself: ‘Meet Alison’ episode of Ancestral Kitchen Podcast.
Hear about my weight loss: ‘Alison’s 140lb Weight Loss’ episode of Ancestral Kitchen Podcast.
How I birthed peacefully: My Son Gabriel’s Natural Birth.
Reflections after spending a decade of my life living in Italy: Letting Go Of A Dream…I’m Leaving Italy.
To celebrate my 50th birthday: 50 Things an Ancestral Lifestyle has Taught Me
I’m currently taking a break from Instagram, but you can find my many posts at @ancestral_kitchen.
Media interviews:
Begin Here: 5 Ancestral Foods To Bring Into Your Kitchen: An interview with the Wise Traditions podcast
Making Medieval Ale at Home: An interview with Dr Neil Buttery of The British Food History podcast
What Happens After Happily Ever After?: A reflective and personal interview with The Storied Recipe
Why Connecting with Our Food Matters: Second part of a podcast interview with The Tea’s Made
What is Eating ‘Ancestrally’: First part of a podcast interview with The Tea’s Made
Ancient Traditions of Fermenting Grains: Podcast interview with Modern Ancestral Mamas
What Is Ancestral Eating?: Podcast interview with The Storied Recipe
My Metabolic Healing Journey: Video interview with The Functional Force (in English with Spanish subtitles)
Living Ancestrally in a Modern World: Podcast interview with the Farm 2 Future
Natural Fertility, PCOS & Home-Made Baby Formula: Video interview with Timeless Cookery