Award-winning food writer and taste expert Ryan Riley BEM is set to headline a stellar line-up of culinary demonstrations at the free-to-attend Scarborough Seafest this weekend.
Renowned chef and food writer Ryan Riley BEM is set to headline the chef demonstrations at Scarborough Seafest 2026, which takes place at Scarborough Spa in the South Bay from Friday the 17th of July to Sunday the 19th of July.
Ryan, who was awarded a British Empire Medal in the 2026 New Year Honours by the King for his services to people suffering from taste loss, turned profound personal grief into a culinary movement that has fundamentally changed how thousands of people experience food.
When he was eighteen years old, his mother, Krista, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Chemotherapy severely dulled her sense of taste, making food a source of misery rather than joy. Following her passing when he was just twenty, he teamed up with his childhood friend Kimberley Duke to find a solution to honour her memory.
Working alongside sensory experts, he developed umami-rich recipes specifically designed to cut through the dulling effects of chemotherapy. This led to the launch of Life Kitchen, an initiative which offers free cookery classes for cancer patients.
The project gained significant momentum after a pitch on Twitter caught the attention of culinary icon Nigella Lawson. Having lost her first husband to cancer, she became an immediate and fierce champion of the cause, sharing Life Kitchen with her millions of followers and remaining one of his biggest supporters today.
This backing triggered a celebrity stampede of support. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall hosted the first Life Kitchen class at River Cottage, while Sue Perkins stepped in as a co-host and eventually became a patron and trustee. Jamie Oliver also opened his own cookery school for Life Kitchen events, with Nigel Slater throwing his weight behind the charity.
Propelled by this star-studded support, Ryan quickly became Britain's leading taste and flavour expert. During the Covid-19 pandemic, when millions lost their sense of taste, he expanded his mission by releasing the globally sensational free cookbook, Life Kitchen.
His pioneering work eventually caught the attention of the Palace, leading to his British Empire Medal. As the media lead for the UK's BEM recipients, he celebrated the honour with a private tour of 10 Downing Street.
A spokesperson for Scarborough Seafest said:
"Today, Ryan continues to prove that profound comfort and healing can be served on a plate and we’re delighted to welcome him to the Yorkshire Coast for Seafest at the Spa!"
He will be joined by a stellar line-up of culinary talent from across the local area. The full schedule for the chef demonstrations in the Promenade Lounge on Saturday the 18th of July is as follows:
Saturday Line-Up
| Time | Chef | Establishment / Role |
| 10:30 am | Dan Hargreaves | Chef & Owner, Embers Restaurant (Scarborough) |
| 11:30 am | Michael Burgoyne | Executive Chef, Wolds Restaurant, Orchard Lodge (Flixton) |
| 12:30 pm | Ryan Riley BEM (Headline) | Founder & Chef, Life Kitchen; Food Writer & Columnist |
| 1:30 pm | Martyn Hyde | Chef & Owner, Eat Me Café at the SJT Theatre (Scarborough) |
| 2:30 pm | Ryan Osborne | Executive Chef, The Hotel Victoria (Robin Hood's Bay) |
| 3:30 pm | Chris Hobson | Sous Chef, Wrea Head Hall Hotel (Scalby) |
Sunday Line-Up
| Time | Chef | Establishment / Role |
| 10:30 am | Dan Hargreaves | Chef & Owner, Embers Restaurant |
| 11:30 am | Kath Breckon | Development Chef (NYCC) & Unilever Brand Ambassador |
| 12:30 pm | Ryan Riley BEM | Founder & Chef, Life Kitchen |
| 1:30 pm | Martyn Hyde | Chef & Owner, Eat Me Café |
| 2:30 pm | Luke Daniels | Hospitality Trainer (Scarborough TEC) & Burnt Chef Ambassador |
| 3:30 pm | Dan Hargreaves | Chef & Owner, Embers Restaurant (Closing Session) |
A statement from the event organisers said:
"With free admission and a packed programme of activities, organisers are encouraging residents and visitors alike to head to Scarborough Spa this weekend and enjoy one of the town's most anticipated summer events."
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