A PRINCES Risborough chef, encouraged by his customers at the Waitrose store in London where he works, has released a new cookery book which he describes as: “contemporary cooking with a twist”.

Richard Caley, 47 (known as “Chef Richard”) has already sold a copy of his new book ‘Food by Richard’ to celebrity TV chef Delia Smith. Caley said: “Her neighbour had a copy and she wanted one too. “I signed it ‘To Delia, lets do lunch’”.

Caley lives in Princes Risborough but spends half of his time in London where he works at the meat and fish counter of the St Katherine Docks branch of Waitrose in East London.

Caley originally had aspirations to be a butcher and was inspired by his father to train at the age of 11.

“He’d been a butcher for 50 years. He told me ‘go into the world, if you still want to do it then come back’” Caley said.

Caley did eventually return to his father’s career when he began working for Waitrose a year ago, but spent nearly 30 years working in sales and marketing in the city, where he met his second wife Nicola, 45.

After Mrs Caley developed arthritis, Caley decided to move with her to Princes Risborough to look after her and her ageing parents.

It was his wife Nicola, an ex- Challoner’s high school student, who taught Caley to cook at their home in Princes Risborough. “My second wife is a fantastic cook, she taught me to cook” he said.

Due to Mrs Caley’s arthritis she no longer has the dexterity required for cooking so often instructs her husband from the sidelines.

“She’s got the vision” Caley said. “We bounce ideas off each other, she’s the vision and I’m the visual.”

Caley said that he hopes to “reinvent some old classics” with his new book which has the tagline: “contemporary cooking with a twist”.

“It’s rustic contemporary bistro food. We’re trying to reignite some old classics. There’s a cracking trout with almonds recipe.”

Caley already has another book planned for next year. He said: “There’s going to be a lot of party stuff, quick meals and my take on fusion cooking.”