About Me | The Flexible Chef

About Me

Phil Morrison – The Flexible Chef cooking from Casa Adora, Andalucía

I've been living in southern Spain's Andalucía since 2012, cooking from my village home Casa Adora in the Sierra Sur de Jaén.

My little white village (mi poco pueblo blanco) sits between the cities of Jaén, Granada and Córdoba – in the heart of Spain's olive oil-producing region. We're talking zillions upon zillions of olive groves stretching across this unspoilt corner of the Iberian Peninsula.

From rural France to rural Spain (and now Extremadura)

I'm a hobby chef who ran a successful restaurant in rural France for two years before settling in Andalucía.

These days I split my time between Casa Adora and my recent passion: vanlife and off-grid living in Extremadura.

Living between two rural Spanish regions has shaped how I cook – experimenting with whatever's in season at local markets, testing recipes that work whether you're cooking in a village kitchen or a campervan, and embracing the relaxed, flavour-first approach that Mediterranean cooking is all about.

The Flexible Chef philosophy

On this site, you'll find Spanish and Andalusian-inspired recipes, Indian spice-based dishes, vanlife cooking tips, ideas for solo cooking and batch cooking, and plenty of ways to use whatever seasonal ingredients you've got or that obscure ingredient sitting in your cupboard.

I cook with herbs and freshly ground spices in a relaxed and unhurried manner. Food should be cooked with a little love even when cooking for one or off-grid in the middle of nowhere, don't you think?

You can browse all my recipe collections here.

When I'm not cooking, I write political satire and created the Issy & Poppy Investigate series – adventures told through the eyes of my two Galgos Español (Spanish greyhounds), Issy and Poppy. You'll find both the main series and the Kids Edition Adventures on this site.

Visit Casa Adora

The view from my roof terrace is fabulous (just fabulous), the climate is kind, and there's always something chilled in the fridge. If you're travelling through this part of Spain, you're welcome to call by.

Life here wouldn’t be the same without my two rescue dogs, Issy and Poppy, who keep me company on every walk through the olive groves. They each have their own personalities, so they get their own little introductions below.

Issy

I rescued Issy (Isabella on Sundays), a Spanish greyhound, on Valentine's Day 2018. My walking has increased ten-fold since then. And we are both very happy.

Issy is a character — full of opinions, routines, and a surprising amount of confidence for someone who once lived on the streets. She’s in complete denial about that part of her past, of course, but she’s settled into village life as if she invented it.

Since adding four wheels to the mix, Issy has taken to van life like a natural. Properly harnessed up front between the seats, she rides shotgun and watches the world go by — the perfect co-pilot. She's found her perfect life at Hermoso Campo, my off-grid plot in Extremadura, where the freedom suits her just as much as it suits me.

Poppy

Poppy Tinribs: The Heart of the Adventure

Whilst walking in the campo on 3 January 2019, we found Poppy. A Galgo Español with a gentle soul, she spent seven wonderful years treating Issy like a daughter (most of the time).

Everybody’s dog is the best dog in the world, and Poppy was right up there with them. What defined her was her immense gratitude; she appreciated every meal, every walk, and especially her very own sofa.

As the elder stateswoman of the duo, Poppy embraced van life with a quiet dignity. While Issy kept watch up front, Poppy would retreat to her cosy lower bunk—her own little safe space—travelling in style across the Iberian Peninsula. She was always in her element in the wide-open spaces and warm sunshine of the north.

Poppy has now retired from active duty, but she remains the "quiet authority" and the true inspiration behind the Issy & Poppy Investigate series. She simply was Poppy, and she is greatly missed.

Poppy Tinribs (2014 – 2026)