COOK-in-residence Jill Morrisseau Clough is serving up a treat for the tastebuds in Longwood.

Jill, 41, took over the kitchen at Longwood Village Coffee Shop in June and hasn’t looked back since.

The not-for-profit coffee shop puts everything it makes back into Longwood Mechanics Hall.

And the big winners are local people who get to sample wholesome, healthy and creative food at a value-for-money price.

“All our produce is locally-sourced from local suppliers right down to the milkman,” said Jill.

“I cook everything myself so I know exactly what’s in each dish.

“Healthy eating is very important.”

The coffee shop is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm.

Jill can call on a team of 15 volunteers who work on a shift basis. Everyone must pass hygiene level one before they are allowed in the kitchen.

The coffee shop has 30 covers but the kitchen can cater for up to 80 people for special events, at weekends and outside of the normal opening hours.

Jill, who came in as holiday relief for the previous chef, ended up staying when he left.

“I couldn’t see the kitchen shut down,” she said. “So many people had put so much into it.”

Mum-of-two Jill, a trained cook, worked in the catering trade until she left to have a family.

Now her children are older she has returned to the kitchen.

Jill starts work at 7am and doesn’t leave until 4pm.

“People think I live here,” said Jill. “They think I’ve got a hammock out the back!”

Jill’s menus change every week and there are special themes depending on the time of year.

At Christmas she served up 210 four-course Christmas dinners over a week, then there were specials for Hallowe’en, Bonfire Night and a celebration of The Hobbit.

Homemade haggis was on the menu this week for Burns Night and future themes include James Bond and the Famous Five.

Jill even produces bagged meals to take out which people can eat straightaway or freeze for later.

Jill’s homemade cakes are particularly popular.

She’s found a wartime recipe for beetroot and dark chocolate cake which is often sold out before its made. Then her boozy Christmas cake – with half a bottle of cherry brandy in each one – also went down a treat.

Other mouth-watering recipes include rhubarb and peach crumble from the time of Henry VIII and stilton and celery soup.

Customers always leave the coffee shop more than satisfied and Jill said: “The only complaints we get is that some people can’t finish their three-course meals, and that’s fine by me!”