Last year I had this great spate of productivity – I promised myself that I would read at least one book a month and often managed two. I was trying to get through the classics, the Nobel prize winners and the smart books that every intelligent thinking person should be able to casually boast about. To…
Book reviews
‘East End Paradise’ by Jojo Tulloh
Originally published in 2009 as Freshly Picked, East End Paradise is a collection of recipes and anecdotes based on the fruits of Jojo Tulloh‘s allotment in Leyton, East London. As the food editor of The Week, Tulloh knows a thing or two about food. But reading through East End Paradise, it seems that it wasn’t until…
‘The Scandinavian Kitchen’ by Camilla Plum
I must admit, I know very little about Scandinavian food. The only time that I’ve been in Scandinavia was during a stop-over in Copenhagen – hardly a long stay. And the only time I’ve come close to Scandinavian food was on two long haul journeys with Scandinavian Airlines, who provided the best on-board bread I’ve ever…
‘Green & Black’s Organic Ultimate Chocolate Recipes’ edited by Micah Carr-Hill
Of all the people in the world to have authority on chocolate, a chocolate maker must surely be somewhere on top of the list? So that’s exactly what I was expecting when I picked up the Green & Black’s Ultimate Chocolate Recipes. Given Green & Black’s were the first to introduce a 70% dark chocolate to the…
‘Recipe for murder’ by Estérelle Payany
Recipe for Murder is a rare and inspired creation by culinary journalist Estérelle Payany, which combines food with literature. The small but all-encompassing collection of recipes take inspiration from some of the literary world’s best known villains. A quick flick through is like an edible journey through the greatest (fictional) crimes in the world – you will…
Road-testing ‘Jamie’s 30 minute meals’ by Jamie Oliver
As the book that accompanies Jamie Oliver’s Channel Four series of the same title, Jamie’s 30-Minute Meals has received a lot of publicity. Lots of people (including Guardian columnists) have tried cooking along with the show and failed. I too have watched in awe as Oliver apparently peeled and chopped an entire tray of fruit in…