By Harry Eastwood, published by Bantam Press, 2009
When my sister pressed her copy of Red Velvet & Chocolate Heartache into my hands last weekend, it came with a warning. “Give it a chance” she urged me, knowing that I was already slightly biased against this book.
“I will, don’t worry” I answered. But inside, I was skeptical. Come on- cakes made with vegetables instead of butter? Who’s buying that one? Read more…
By Nigel Slater, published by Fourth Estate, 2009
Oh, to eat at Nigel Slater’s table. That’s what I think (wistfully), and what I imagine any sane person would think, on leafing through the food writer’s new book Tender. Published to coincide with the TV series Simple Suppers, I received a copy for my birthday last month (thanks, Hil!), and have been dreaming of its contents ever since. Read more…
By Deborah Madison, published by Broadway Books, 1997
Last year, when I decided to give up meat for good, there was one thing I felt it absolutely necessary to do. No, I wasn’t going on a weird pre-veg cleanse or ridding my house of all animal products; this was something far simpler. I just needed to buy a cookbook. Read more…
By Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers, published by Ebury Press, 2006
In my family, we’re very big on stockings at Christmas. Far from being just an appetizer, in my parents’ house, the stockings are the main event. Truthfully, I could take or leave the stuff under the tree (but don’t tell them that). All year long my Mum picks up little things she thinks we’ll like, and on Christmas morning the result is an eclectic selection of goodies, ranging from the practical to the indulgent. Read more…
By Jamie Oliver, Published by Hyperion, 2007
I’ve been looking forward to reviewing Jamie at Home since I bought it with a Chapters gift card (one of the best Christmas presents you can get, in my opinion) in January. Perhaps surprisingly for a book-loving foodie living in the UK, this is the first Jamie Oliver book I’ve ever owned. Of course, I love his shows, regularly cook meals from his site, and even pick up his magazine on occasion, but I’d never had a cookbook of his before. After enjoying the tv series that ties in with this title over the autumn of 2008, I knew that had to change. Read more…
By Mark Bittman, published by Wiley, 2007
In my flat, most of my cookbooks live in a bookcase in the living room (or lounge, if you’re British). While I’d love to be able to have them all at arm’s reach, space restrictions call for a short dash. Three books, however, do reside in the kitchen, on a table under the window, where keys and mail get dumped unceremoniously. One of these chosen cookbooks is How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, by Mark Bittman. Read more…
