‘Joyful, life-affirming, greedy. I loved it’ – DIANA HENRY‘Whether you are an avid cyclist, a Francophile, a greedy gut, or simply an appreciator of impeccable writing – this book will get you hooked’ – YOTAM OTTOLENGHIThe nation’s ‘taster in chief’ cycles 2,300 km across France in search of the definitive versions of classic French dishes.A green bike drunkenly weaves its way up a cratered hill in the late-morning sun, the gears grinding painfully, like a pepper mill running on empty. The rider crouched on top in a rictus of pain has slowed to a gravity-defying crawl when, from somewhere nearby, the whine of a nasal engine breaks through her ragged breathing.A battered van appears behind her, the customary cigarette dangling from its driver’s-side window… as he passes, she casually reaches down for some water, smiling broadly in the manner of someone having almost too much fun. ‘No sweat,’ she says jauntily to his retreating exhaust pipe. ‘Pas de problème, monsieur.’A land of glorious landscapes, and even more glorious food, France is a place built for cycling and for eating, too – a country large enough to give any journey an epic quality, but with a bakery on every corner. Here, you can go from beach to mountain, Atlantic to Mediterranean, polder to Pyrenees, and taste the difference every time you stop for lunch. If you make it to lunch, that is…Part travelogue, part food memoir, all love letter to France, One More Croissant for the Road follows ‘the nation’s taster in chief’ Felicity Cloake’s very own Tour de France, cycling 2,300km across France in search of culinary perfection; from Tarte Tatin to Cassoulet via Poule au Pot, and Tartiflette. Each of the 21 ‘stages’ concludes with Felicity putting this new found knowledge to good use in a fresh and definitive recipe for each dish – the culmination of her rigorous and thorough investigative work on behalf of all of our taste buds. Read more

'If only my Cantonese parents weren't so allergic to the word love…''A wonderfully heart-warming memoir from the bottom of the stomach.' Xiaolu Guo'A real and delightful surprise, full of smart thought and deft words – and also very funny.' Ella Risbridger'Poetic, delicious and full of moments of grace and beauty.' Nikesh ShuklaWhat is the most unsayable thing you have ever wanted to say to your parents? For newly single food journalist Candice Chung, there's been one thing on her mind lately: 'If anything happens, I love you.' Simple. Reasonable. If only her estranged Cantonese parents weren't so allergic to the word 'love'. Still, she's determined to tackle what's left unsaid. To find a way to unscramble what her family has been trying to tell each other all along – not in Cantonese or English, but with food. As Candice dives into the rituals of family dining, and her parents offer to join her at restaurants she's due to review, she begins to unravel how a decade of silence and distance have shaped their relationship. Through shared meals and culinary adventures – from steaming hotpots to pasta at uncomfortably romantic trattorias – they begin to confront the unspoken. And to unpick what it means to show care when you come from a culture where saying 'I love you' isn't the norm. Set against the backdrop of a burgeoning new relationship, grasped-at date nights mid-pandemic and an uncertain future across seas, Candice reflects on migration, solitude and intimacy. How can we rebuild closeness when we've drifted apart? Can food fill the gaps where words fail? For anyone who has ever found their loved ones' emotional worlds unreachable, Chinese Parents Don't Say I Love You is packed with heart, humour and those bright-hearted moments around a dinner table that bring us together. __ 'Tenderly shows how food steps up to provide the emotional support, comfort, and safety that humans need, when words cannot.' Hetty Lui McKinnon 'Will undo anyone whose love language is food.' Tara Wigley, co-author of Ottolenghi SIMPLE Read more

'Sally really tells it how it is . . . This book will be a go to for those needing that bit of bravery and resilience in a world that needs more people like her' CANDICE BROWN'Wow. Sally's book is an insightful, honest account of a young cook's journey to an inspirational chef' ANGELA HARTNETT'She doesn't so much pull back the curtains as yank them away, revealing the plain truth of what it takes to get dinner on to your plate' OBSERVERThis is the story of Sally Abé's rise to become an award-winning chef in the brutal world of restaurant kitchens; how a girl from the midlands who used to cook herself Smash to get by is now one of the most successful fine-dining chefs working today.It's a familiar trope: angry men berating each other in kitchens as pots furiously boil, sauces burn and a giant slab of beef rests in the background. The dominant view of a professional kitchen is one of chaos and pent-up fury - a gladiatorial contest of male ego. Why then do we also hear the misogynistic refrain that women 'belong in the kitchen' if, in a professional context, they're all but erased from them? A Woman's Place is in the Kitchen is a stirring manifesto - drawing back the curtain on restaurant kitchens to show how she is endeavouring to change them for the better. Filled with stories of Michelin-starred food, the relentlessness of kitchens, as well as the hope for the future of the culinary landscape, Sally's memoir is set to become a classic. Read more

Fortnum & Mason Food Book of the Year 2016We are not born knowing what to eat. We all have to learn it as children sitting expectantly at a table. For our diets to change, we need to relearn the food experiences that first shaped us.Everyone starts drinking milk. After that it’s all up for grabs.We are not born knowing what to eat; we each have to figure it out for ourselves. From childhood onwards, we learn how big a portion is and how sweet is too sweet. We learn to love broccoli – or not. But how does this happen? What are the origins of taste? And once we acquire our food habits, can we ever change them for the better?In First Bite, award-winning food writer Bee Wilson draws on the latest research from food psychologists, neuroscientists and nutritionists to reveal how our food habits are shaped by a whole host of factors: family and culture, memory and gender, hunger and love. She looks at the effects siblings can have on eating choices and the social pressures to eat according to sex. Bee introduces us to people who can only eat food of a certain colour; toddlers who will eat nothing but hot dogs; doctors who have found radical new ways to help children eat vegetables. First Bite also looks at how people eat in different parts of the world: we see how grandparents in China overfeed their grandchildren, and how Japan came to adopt such a healthy diet (it wasn’t always so).The way we learn to eat holds the key to why food has gone so disastrously wrong for so many people. But Bee Wilson also shows that both adults and children have immense potential for learning new, healthy eating habits. An exploration of the extraordinary and surprising origins of our taste and eating habits, First Bite explains how we can change our palates to lead healthier, happier lives. Read more

'I have been looking forward to Sabrina Ghayour's new book, Simply, ever since I knew she was writing it... Every page is an invitation to cook.' - Nigella Lawson'Packed with the Iranian-born cook's trademark Persian flavours' - The Herald'The food has immediate "eat me" appeal' - Diana Henry, Sunday Telegraph's 20 Best Cookbooks To Buy This AutumnEasy. Everyday. Simple.Sabrina Ghayour's new collection of unmissable dishes in her signature style, influenced by her love of fabulous flavours, is full of delicious food that can be enjoyed with a minimum of fuss. With sections ranging from Effortless Eating to Traditions With a Twist, Simply provides over 100 bold and exciting recipes that can be enjoyed every day of the week.CONTENTS Chapter one: Effortless Eating Including Spiced carrot & tamarind soup; Date & ginger chicken wings; Baked sweet potato & za'atar chips; Spring onion saladChapter two: Traditions with a Twist Including Green hummus; Kabab koobideh; Persian tahchin; Tahdig e macaroni; Mamen Maleh's borscht; Adas polowChapter three: The Melting Pot Including Steak tartines with tarragon & paprika butter; Chilled pistachio & cucumber soup; Ghayour house chicken kariChapter four: Something Special Including Spiced pork wraps with green apple salsa; Firecracker prawns; Green & black-eyed bean baklava; Mushroom dumplingsChapter five: Cakes, Bakes & Sweet Treats Including Stuffed dates with torched goats' cheese; Lime & black pepper frozen yogurt; Tahini, almond & orange brownies Read more

AS SEEN ON TVAs featured on ITV's 'Inside the Ritz' series 'When you look at the dishes in this book, the photographs - it's beyond beautiful. You wouldn't need to cook a thing. You could just flick through these pages - it is a proper feast for the eyes.' ­- Graham Norton 'As sumptuous as Williams's exquisite cooking, this is a magnificent volume. And a fitting tribute to one of the world's great restaurants. The recipes aren't simple but this is one of those books to immerse yourself in. Five-star brilliance.' - Tom Parker Bowles, Mail on Sunday'Less a classic cookbook than a contemporary guide to gracious living... Subdividing its contents into four seasons, each is introed with a classic cocktail, and there are contributions from The Ritz's stellar staff. But really this is Williams's show, a masterclass in munificence...' - British GQ'A real tour de force ... Definitely the stand-out recipe book of the year for me.' - The Caterer'John Williams's food at the Piccadilly institution is revered. Now it has brought out the cookbook so you can recreate the magic at home.' - ES Magazine'Part technical recipe book, part memoir. There are Williams's memories of growing up in South Shields, the son of a trawlerman, who accompanied his mother on shopping trips to the butcher and developed a precocious taste for tripe and Jersey Royals. As for the recipes, certain classics are within the range of the dinner-party cook (salt-baked celeriac, for instance, or venison Wellington).' - Telegraph 'A work of art, full of recipes exactly as they are made in the Ritz kitchen, beautifully photographed by John Carey. Marvel at the sheer amount of work and skill that goes into each dish, the processes and the perfectionism - and maybe start with the recipe for scones on page 112.' - hot-dinners.com'... As an exemplar of classic and timeless dishes, it is an invaluable book that lets the reader peer behind the screen of one of the capital's most enduring institutions. For Williams' anecdote on the eating habits of the late Margaret Thatcher, it is worth the cover price alone.' - Big Hospitality'Distinctive cookbook... This upscale offering is wholly in keeping with its subject: elegant, carefully studied, and more aspirational than practical.' - Publishers WeeklyThe Ritz: The Quintessential Cookbook is the first book to celebrate recipes of the dishes served today, at lunch and at dinner. The book features 100 delicious recipes, such as Roast scallops bergamot & avocado, Saddle of lamb belle époque and Grand Marnier Soufflé, and is divided into the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.The recipes reflect the glorious opulence and celebratory ambience of The Ritz; seasonal dishes of fish, shellfish, meat, poultry and game. Desserts include pastries, mousses, ice creams and spectacular, perfectly-risen soufflés. There are recipes that are simple and others for the more ambitious cook, plus helpful tips to guide you at home.Along the way, John Williams shares his culinary philosophy and expertise. For any cook who has wondered how they do it at The Ritz, this book will provide the answers. There will be plenty of entertaining tales about the hotel and unique glimpses of London's finest kitchen beneath ground. Read more

‘inspiring stories … alongside beautifully illustrated sweet and savoury recipes.’ BBC GOOD FOOD‘[An] inspiring London bakery … empowering tales are interspersed with illustrated recipes.’ DELICIOUS.Inspirational stories. Irresistible bakes.From the perfect sponge cake to a foolproof focaccia, discover Luminary Bakery in over 70 delicious recipes. A social enterprise founded to support women experiencing disadvantage by teaching them how to bake, it has become a hub of creativity and community.Learn to create their iconic cinnamon buns, perfect pastries or a banoffee birthday cake. From simple bakes to showstoppers, the secrets of each bread, cake or stress-free dessert are accompanied by stories from the Luminary family.Heartwarming, joyful and above all, inspiring, every recipe in this classic collection is a story of Rising Hope. Read more

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025Discover the mouthwatering follow-up to Stanley Tucci's bestselling memoir, Taste‘Sharing food is one of the purest human acts'Food has always been an integral part of Stanley Tucci’s life: from stracciatella soup served in the shadow of the Pantheon, to marinara sauce cooked between rehearsals and costume fittings, to home-made pizza eaten with his children before bedtime.Now, in What I Ate in One Year, Tucci records twelve months of eating, in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself.Whether it’s duck à l’orange eaten with fellow actors and cooked by singing Carmelite nuns, steaks barbecued at a gathering with friends, meatballs made by his mother and son and shared at the table with three generations of his family, these meals give shape and richness to his days.___________________________________________________________'A hugely entertaining glimpse into a well-lived life full of fun, food, family, travel, work, passions and love. I adored every page' Dolly Alderton'This is a man who knows both how to eat and how to live' Guardian‘Everyone wants to spend a day and share a meal with Stanley Tucci and this is the perfect way to do it … A true joy’ Ina Garten‘Tucci's wit is dry as a martini; his observations as sharp as lemon tart’ Elizabeth DayStanley Tucci, Prime Time Emmy Winner 2023 and Sunday Times bestseller, March 2023 Read more

A collection of simple and sustainable recipes from farm to tableFeaturing inspiring stories from 20 people, Home Made celebrates everyone who makes and grows the food we eat. With over 60 recipes from Kate Humble's kitchen table, you can enjoy simple, quick and fuss-free meals.CONTENTS INCLUDE:Snacks, Sides, Drinks & Other ThingsBaba ganoush with flatbreads; Iris's Speculaas hot chocolate; Honey, almond & olive oil cakeVegetarianApple, cheese & honey tart; Frying pan pizza bianca with porcini mushrooms; Roasted tomatoes with ricotta & garlic butterFishChorizo, prawn & butter bean stew; Maple & miso baked fish with noodle salad; Thai-spiced fish stewMeatAll-in-one campfire hotdogs; Hoisin pork belly & cucumber in lettuce cups; One-pot spring chicken casserolePuddingsChocolate chip cookies; Plum tarte tatin; Tumbler lemon curd & raspberry 'cheesecake' Read more

**A 2025 book to look out for by the Guardian and Sunday Times**'Bee Wilson is one of my favourite writers and this may be her best book' CHRIS VAN TULLEKENThis strikingly original account from award-winning food writer Bee Wilson charts how everyday objects take on deeply personal meanings in all our lives.One ordinary day, the tin in which Bee Wilson baked her wedding cake fell to the ground at her feet. This should have been unremarkable, except that her marriage had just ended.Unsettled by her own feelings about the heart-shaped tin, Wilson begins a search for others who have attached strong and even magical meanings to kitchen objects. She meets people who deal with grief or pain by projecting emotions onto certain objects, whether it is a beloved parent’s salt shaker, a cracked pasta bowl or an inherited china dinner service. Remembering her own mother, a dementia sufferer, she explores the ways that both of them have been haunted by deciding which kitchen utensils to hold on to and which to get rid of when you think you are losing your mind.Looking to different continents, cultures and civilisations to investigate the full scope of this phenomenon, Wilson blends her own experiences with a series of touching personal stories that reflect the irrational and fundamentally human urge to keep mementos. Why would a man trapped in a concentration camp decide to make a spoon for himself? Why do some people hoard? What do gifts mean? How do we decide what is junk and what is treasure? We see firsthand how objects can contain hidden symbols, keep the past alive and even become powerful symbols of identity and resistance; from a child’s first plate to a refugee’s rescued vegetable corers.Thoughtful, tender and beautifully written, The Heart-Shaped Tin is a moving examination of love, loss, broken cups and the legacy of things we all leave behind. Read more

Based on the hugely popular courses at Darina Allen's Ballymaloe Cookery School, this book reveals the lost art of making creamy butter and yoghurt, keeping a few hens in the garden, home-curing and smoking bacon, and even foraging for food in the wild.So many of our happiest childhood memories are connected to food. Rediscover the flavours of all-time favourites such as traditional stuffed roast chicken, figgy toffee pudding, and freshly baked scones with strawberry jam. Darina also offers lots of thrifty tips for using up leftovers in delicious ways.Essential reading for urban and rural dwellers alike, this is the definitive modern guide to traditional cookery skills.'There's not much this gourmet grande dame doesn't know.' Nigel Slater, Observer Food Monthly'Our first lady of food.' The Irish Independent'Ireland's answer to Delia and Nigella.' Sunday Telegraph Stella magazine Read more

The charming and joyful follow-up book from ‘the nation’s taster in chief,’ Felicity Cloake.If there’s one thing that truly unites Britain, from Aberdeen to Aberystwyth, St Ives to St Pancras, it’s an obsession with breakfast.We all have an opinion on the merits of brown sauce versus ketchup on our morning bacon sarnie. In this eagerly awaited follow-up to One More Croissant for the Road, the nation’s favourite taster-in-chief Felicity Cloake sets off on a cycle trip of condimental proportions to investigate and celebrate the legendary Great British Breakfast. Travelling the length and breadth of the UK to establish once and for all what makes a perfect fry-up, she rates them on criteria from the crispness of the bacon to how long they keep her pedalling. But a woman cannot live by All Day Breakfast alone, so as well as recipes for the Savoy's Omelette Arnold Bennett and proper Scottish porridge, she lavishes her attention on the regional specialities she encounters along the way, from a desi breakfast in Birmingham to a Greggs Geordie stottie cake. This is a freewheeling gastronomical tour like no other.Eaten with as much relish in The Wolseley on Piccadilly as in Glasgow’s University Cafe, Britain loves nothing more than a good breakfast. The only question is: what do you have with yours? Read more

WINNER OF THE FORTNUM & MASON DEBUT FOOD BOOK AWARD 2021WINNER OF 2021 LAKELAND BOOK OF THE YEAR‘Extraordinary. Vivid, irreverent, heartbreaking.’ NIGEL SLATER‘So funny and so delicious. I could eat it.’ DAWN O’PORTER‘Delicious.’ THE OBSERVERFrom Frazzles to Foie Gras: a memoir of wanting more.From an early age, Grace Dent was hungry. As a little girl growing up in Currock, Carlisle, she yearned to be something bigger, to go somewhere better.Hungry traces Grace’s story from growing up eating beige food to becoming one of the much-loved voices on the British food scene. It’s also everyone’s story – from treats with your nan, to cheese and pineapple hedgehogs, to the exquisite joy of cheaply-made apple crumble with custard. It’s the high-point of a chip butty covered in vinegar and too much salt in the school canteen, on an otherwise grey day of double-Maths and cross country running. It’s the real story of how we have all lived, laughed, and eaten over the past 40 years.Warm, funny and joyous, Hungry is also about love and loss, the central role that food plays in all our lives, and how a Cadbury’s Fruit ‘n’ Nut in a hospital vending machine can brighten the toughest situation. Read more

Experience the delicious flavors and warm memories of a great Italian American community with this irresistible cookbook.Arthur Avenue winds its way through the heart of the Bronx. Known to many as the “real Little Italy,” the storied Arthur Avenue neighborhood has been home to a vibrant community of Italian-Americans for over a hundred years. Today, this area continues to thrive as visitors and residents stop to buy a fresh, crusty loaf of bread; to enjoy a meal at Mario’s Restaurant; to dawdle for a while at Randazzo’s raw bar on a warm summer afternoon; or to hear Mike’s Deli owner Michele Grecobelt out an aria from Rigoletto and spellbind his customers with tales of the Avenue’s past.Now, for the first time, the residents of Arthur Avenue invite you to experience the magic of their kitchens and share the flavors of their family tables. Passed down through generations, their delicious recipes are time-tested, tried, and true—and ready for any kitchen. They include:• Sicilian Baked Ziti • Yankee Stadium Big Boy (The Greco family’s famous grinder that was rated one of the best in the city by the New York Times) • Osso Buco • Olive Ciabatta • Italian Ricotta Cheesecake • Cannoli • and moreThe Arthur Avenue Cookbook also invites you to savor the memories of the neighborhood’s most colorful residents, restaurateurs, and shop owners, and those of their families—many of whom have lived in the neighborhood since it first came into being. Meet Mario Borgatti, the noodle maker who has been there for more than eighty-five years. Anthony Artuso, Sr., takes his bakery business so seriously that he went seventeen years without a vacation—in part, to ensure that each bride and groom got the perfect wedding cake. And Mike Rella, president of the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, remembers learning English by working in a butcher shop, where he’s now a partner with his uncle Peter Servedio.This cookbook also provides a guide to the pastry shops, delis, restaurants, and other famous and lesser-known gems that line Arthur Avenue. Gorgeous photographs, extraordinary characters, and enticing dishes make The Arthur Avenue Cookbook an irresistible addition to any kitchen. Read more

A book of the year for the Times, the Sunday Times, the Independent, the Guardian and the Daily Mail'Charming . . . heartbreaking, sometimes both funny and unsettling, and always - from start to end - very, very good' RODDY DOYLE'Magical . . . as scrumptious as the home-made mayonnaise, pumpkin soup and game pie coming out of Joan's kitchen' DAILY MAIL, BOOK OF THE WEEK'A love letter to a remarkable childhood. A total joy' SARAH WINMAN____________________________________________________________________________In a small corner of a field in Wales, Tiffany Murray is hiding with Boggle the dog, dreaming of her mum's moussaka, blackberry and apple crumble, and, if she's lucky, ice-cold lemonade. A sheep bleats. The smell of hay tickles her nose. The twang of a guitar and crack of a snare carry on the breeze.It's the late 1970s and Tiff lives with her mum, Joan, at Rockfield, the iconic recording studios. This place of legend, where some of the most famous rock albums of all time were recorded, is the background to a freewheeling, ever-changing whirlwind of a childhood. Tiff's days are spent running around the farm, making friends with local wildlife and helping out with the endless array of dishes her mum creates to keep the bands fed. She's looking for a dog, she's looking for a father; but the one constant throughout is her and Joan, building an unconventional family in the most unlikely of locations.My Family and Other Rock Stars is Tiff's remarkable, truly unique story of growing up in a rural idyll, of Cordon Bleu cookery and of a childhood where the chances of bumping into Freddie Mercury playing piano, or a group of Hell's Angels turning up to record for Lemmy, or even the hope of David Bowie appearing, were as normal as hopscotch and homework.____________________________________________________________________________'You will fall in love with Tiff, her hilarious non-nonsense mother Joan, and a cast of hungry rock stars from Freddie Mercury to Siouxsie Sioux. An utter treat' RACHEL JOYCE'Full of pop gossip that'll leave you starry-eyed, and written with a warmth and precision you'll want to savour for as long as you can . . . I didn't want it to end' SÉAMAS O'REILLY'Enchanting' INDEPEDENT, 20 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEARLonglisted for the Penderyn Music Book PrizeMy Family and Other Rock Stars was the Daily Mail book of the week 17.05.2024 Read more

Personal stories and recipes reveal the culinary journey of the James Beard Award–winning “Queen of Southern Cuisine” (Southern Living).   Nathalie Dupree is a storyteller, and in this delightful book she shares her favorite culinary stories, tracing her journey from a budding cook for her college friends through her years as a restaurant cook and cooking instructor. Her activist spirit, humor, feisty personality, and authoritative knowledge of cooking make this a must-have cookbook for everyone who’s watched her on TV, read her articles, or invoked her name in a conversation about Southern food. “In Dupree’s gastronomy, a fine meal is as much about enjoying people as it is marveling at mashed potatoes, though marvel you will.” —Charleston City Paper  Includes color photographs Read more

Delve into the history of the American burger and discover various new cooking methods and recipes to bring regional flavors into your home.The Great American Burger Book is the first book to showcase a wide range of regional hamburger styles and cooking methods. Author and burger expert George Motz covers traditional grilling techniques as well as how to smoke, steam, poach, and deep-fry burgers based on signature recipes from around the country. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific regional burger, from the tortilla burger of New Mexico to the classic New York–style pub burger, and from the fried onion burger of Oklahoma to Hawaii’s Loco Moco. Motz provides expert instruction, tantalizing recipes, and vibrant color photography to help you create unique variations on America’s favorite dish in your own home. Recipes feature regional burgers from: California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.Praise for The Great American Burger Book “For true burger obsessives, there is no other cookbook.” ―Paula Forbes, Epicurious.com “What a way to travel through America! George Motz takes us one burger at a time. I’ll be locked on the Green Chile Cheeseburger page for my lesson from New Mexico.” ―Bobby Flay “In the land of the hamburger, George Motz is king, an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and passionate king who brings us not only the meat but heart and soul.”―Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune Read more

Bee Wilson is the food writer and historian who writes as the 'Kitchen Thinker' in the Sunday Telegraph, and is the author of Swindled!. Her charming and original new book, Consider the Fork, explores how the implements we use in the kitchen have shaped the way we cook and live. A wooden spoon - most trusty and loveable of kitchen implements - looks like the opposite of 'technology', as the word is normally understood. But look closer. Is it oval or round? Does it have an extra-long handle to give your hand a place of greater safety from a hot skillet? Or a pointy bit at one side to get the lumpy bits in the corner of the pan? It took countless inventions to get to the well-equipped kitchens we have now, where our old low-tech spoon is joined by mixers, freezers and microwaves, but the story of human invention in the kitchen is largely unseen. Discovering the histories of our knives, ovens and kitchens themselves, Bee Wilson explores, among many other things, why the French and Chinese have such different cultures of the knife; and why Roman kitchens contain so many implements we recognize. Encompassing inventors, scientists, cooks and chefs, this is the previously unsung history of our kitchens. Read more

Prepare to take your love of coffee to the next level with this richly aromatic tour of the world's favourite drink, from bean to cup and beyond Happiness comes in all shapes and sizes: espresso, cortado, flat white, latte, cappuccino... We wake up and smell it. We crave it when we're sleepy. We take deep lungfuls of its rich aroma when we buy a new bag of it. We put it in cakes, cocktails and just about every other type of food imaginable. But most of all, we rely on it to punctuate our day with a caffeine hit and a small burst of all its delicious flavours. In this homage to the coffee bean you will:- Learn how coffee was discovered, how it is grown and how it is turned into our favourite drink- Discover everything you wanted to know about different beans, roasting styles and brewing techniques- Take a barista training course from the comfort of your own kitchen, with top tips on making the perfect brew at home- Get to grips with modern developments in the coffee world, such as nitro, cold brew, proffee and snapchilled coffee- Try out delicious coffee-based recipes, from flavoured lattes and iced coffees to coffee fudge, tiramisu, homemade syrups and espresso martinisThe only thing this book doesn't contain is caffeine - you'll have to make a fresh cup of joe for that. Read more

“A personal yet magisterial account of the new brain-based approach to flavor perception . . . [a] panoramic view of science, culture, and behavior.”—Avery Gilbert, author of What the Nose Knows   Leading neuroscientist Gordon M. Shepherd embarks on a paradigm-shifting trip through the “human brain flavor system,” laying the foundations for a new scientific field: neurogastronomy. Challenging the belief that the sense of smell diminished during human evolution, Shepherd argues that this sense, which constitutes the main component of flavor, is far more powerful and essential than previously believed. Shepherd begins Neurogastronomy with the mechanics of smell, particularly the way it stimulates the nose from the back of the mouth. As we eat, the brain conceptualizes smells as spatial patterns, and from these and the other senses it constructs the perception of flavor. Shepherd then considers the impact of the flavor system on contemporary social, behavioral, and medical issues. He analyzes flavor’s engagement with the brain regions that control emotion, food preferences, and cravings, and he even devotes a section to food’s role in drug addiction and, building on Marcel Proust’s iconic tale of the madeleine, its ability to evoke deep memories.  Shepherd connects his research to trends in nutrition, dieting, and obesity, especially the challenges that many face in eating healthily. He concludes with human perceptions of smell and flavor and their relationship to the neural basis of consciousness. Everyone from casual diners and ardent foodies to wine critics, chefs, scholars, and researchers will delight in Shepherd’s fascinating, scientific-gastronomic adventures. “Those who make the effort will be rewarded: they’ll never look at eating the same way again.”—Library Journal Read more