If you’re interested in the history of food, please buy William Sitwell’s book, A History of Food in 100 Recipes.
In it, WIlliam charts the earliest recipe for bread from an Egyptian tomb to cheesecakes recipes found in ancient Greece, all the way to the invention of the Kenwood chef.
Its a fascinating read.
Buy it on Amazon - http://amzn.to/INblbh
Nigel Slater’s book Toast is also one of my favourite books. It’s an incredibly funny and touching story that had me laughing one minute and crying the next. It’s basically a collection of short stories from his childhood as it follows his difficult relationship with his father after his mother’s death, interspersed with food. He is a really engaging writer, writing the way he talks. You can almost hear him telling the story as you’re reading it.
I love how he talks about food through the book. It takes you back to the 60s, when Arctic Roll was a much sought-after dinner party dessert and Angel Delight was the staple for everyday meals. He tells of his discovery of spaghetti and powdered parmesan in a tin; the joy of finding out that there was trifle; tinned ham (“pretty-pink with evil jelly”) which was served at a picnic with Heinz Salad Cream in a gravy boat; Terry’s All Gold; Bisto; crab-and-watercress sandwiches; cheese & onion crisps; Campbell’s meatballs in gravy; Fray Bentos steak and kidney pies, and the socially-defining moment when his Mum made grilled grapefruit, which he bragged about at school the next day.
I couldn’t put it down and when I finished it I went straight onto Amazon and bought 6 copies to send out to friends.
Unfortunately, the book was adapted for TV by the BBC last Christmas and it was awful. I found it really depressing and nothing like the book. I would recommend the book but definitely not the film!
I'm a London-based food blogger. I eat, therefore I am. http://www.facebook.com/aspoonfulofsugarblog Twitter: @spoonfulofsugr
fava bean ravioli: recipe here
Tina Brok Hansen
cookies and cream fudge brownies
macarons
