My love affair with food began at my local library at the age of 13. My theory was to get out as many cookbooks that I could carry on my bike as possible, photocopy every page at my mums office then return them the following week for a new stash. Probably not the most responsible way of learning how to cook, but I was a kid with a dwindling pocket money income!
Here are my cookbook essentials (in no particular order):
For yourself…
The River Cafe, Rose Gray & Ruth Rogers – Italian
Chin Chin, Benjamin Cooper – Asian Fusion/Thai
Two Asian Kitchens, Adam Liaw – Japanese/Malaysian/Chinese
Jamie’s Italian, Jamie Oliver – Italian
Jerusalem, Yotam Ottolengi & Sami Tamimi – Israeli/ Middle Eastern
Smitten Kitchen, Deb Perelman – Everyday
Seasons, Donna Hay – Everyday
The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, Tareq Malouf – Baking
Polpo, Russell Norman – Italian
For gifts…
Flour & Water, Thomas Mcnaughton – Pasta/Coffee Table
Larousse Gastronomique, Hamlyn – Coffee Table/Gastronomique
Thai Street Food, David Thompson – Thai/Coffee Table
The Kinfolk Table, Nathan Williams – Home/Coffee Table
What Katie Ate, Katie Quinn Davies – Food Photography/Everyday
Special interest…
Pitt Cue, Tom Adams & Jamie Berger – BBQ
Against All Grain, Danielle Walker – Paleo & IBS
Grains & Seeds Legumes, Molly Brown – Wholegrains
Plenty, Yotam Ottoelnghi – Vegetarian
Home Baking, Meg Rivers – Baking
The Art Of Eating Well, Hemsley & Hemsley – Healthy lifestyle