Jan Bilton and her husband, journalist Michael Ryan,

Together they were responsible for the editing The Foodtown Magazine — Jan for 16 years and Michael for nine. For several years the magazine was the fastest growing lifestyle magazine in the country reaching an audited readership of 273,000 per issue.

In 2007 Jan and Michael moved from Auckland city to Marlborough wine country where they continue to operate Irvine Holt Enterprises.

International and local product development; cookbooks; recipe development; menu development; food photography; food styling; product launching; newspaper and magazine articles; editing; editorial; radio and television communications; video; food demonstrations and classes; press releases; promotions; advertorial and copy writing.

Jan syndicates a weekly food column to 12 New Zealand regional newspapers, is a frequent guest on radio, a food judge, food stylist and a regular magazine contributor.

Jan’s articles have been published in many major New Zealand magazines as well as several in Australia and the USA. She is also the author of 26 cookbooks many of which have been top sellers internationally.

For two years Jan was marketing manager for Lion Breweries’ restaurants (135) and subsequently opened the successful Auckland waterfront restaurant, Saints.

Jan was the presenter and creator of recipes for the 13-part TV cooking programme Fresh & Fancy Fare shown internationally and presenter for In the Kitchen for CTV (six programmes). She has been a frequent guest on morning TV food shows, presenter of a food programme on radio 1ZB for three years and Radio Pacific for two years.

As one of New Zealand's leading food consultants, Jan believes in providing recipes that are simple to prepare, nourishing, stylish and tasty — real food for real people.