'This book is great - a cross between a recipe book and a glossy magazine. It''s simply laid out, as one would expect from a DK book, with information presented in 4 forms: a guide to what''s in season when, an illustrated glossary of different food types (fruit, veg, meat, fish, dairy & grains), features on some of Britain''s farmers and the way they work and, of course, a fantastic collection of recipes ranging from simple vegetable side dishes to unusual main courses and easy desserts.
There are superb photos to help identify the various foods and appetising shots of completed dishes for some of the recipes.
I love the way most of the dishes are really easy to prepare, even if you''re very short of time and it''s good to have recipes from a range of sources, including the farmers themselves and celebrities (not all of them chefs!).'
Customer Review:
Review by: Mark, 24 May 2009
'I have to admit I approached this book with a fairly negative attitude. I''ve lost count of the number of recipe books sitting on my kitchen shelves and to be honest most of them are rarely used.
So, what a pleasant surprise to find that I liked everything about this book.
Obviously the whole idea is a commendable one. Eating food grown in Britain, supporting local businesses, reducing the number of miles it has to travel before reaching our plate are steps we all should be taking.
The first part of the book gives you a month by month guide to what''s in season. This is something I''ve not seen before and I''m sure will be very useful.
The book then works through each food type giving you masses of information - the different types, how to choose and store, how to prepare and what to cook with it.
Each food type then has two or three recipes which I found to be easy to follow and, most importantly, very tasty. I''ve already tried the Pink Pig Cowboy Casserole and the Stir-Fried Chicken and thoroughly enjoyed both.
To sum up, a cracking read and well worth a look.'
Customer Review:
Review by: A Hixon, 23 May 2009
'Right from the very beginning of this book you are inspired to use and, if like me, are trying to grow herbs and vegetables in your own back yard. It is a very helpful and informative book telling you when things are in season, and giving you recipes as well as ideas on perfect pairings.
You are also advised how to store and prepare various meats and vegetables, and shown where they come from getting an insight into what we have available in Britain.
Along with very clear pictures this book is a great addition to anyones library whether they are interested in cooking or growing our foodstuff, or even to teach our children where things come from. '
Customer Review:
Review by: Jenny Britten, 22 May 2009
'We''ve had the learn-how-to-cook books.... now finally there''s a learn how to cook delicious, basic British food using delicious, basic British produce. Like many people of my generation, and younger, I''d lost touch with seasonal food..... the supermarkets sell the same stuff all year round and it all gets a bit mundane.
This book gives you a feel for the seasons - what''s available and especially what''s at it''s best at any particular time of year.
This year I''ve decided to have a go at growing my own fruit and veg and I jumped at this book as the ideal companion to my new hobby.
The photographs are inspiring.... can''t wait for my beetroot to be ready and try the ''Carrot and Beetroot Salad with Toasted Seeds'' and I particularly loved the ''Perfect Pairings'' with great flavour ideas that I would never have thought of by myself.
I''ve been plucking up the courage to try nettles for years, but never felt reassurred enough to give them a go. Well, the ''Wild Nettles and Scrambled Eggs'' will be next weeks surprise breakfast (getting them to gues what''s in it) and I''m feeling quietly confident.
Overall, the book is very easy to use - well laid out and easy to follow. The information is above average - how to store, different varieties, how to prepare the more unusual veg (they''ve always looked interesting, but never known quite what to do with them). But the very best thing about this book is the EXTRA bits of knowledge that it imparts. It doesn''t just say "chop this, add to that, simmer for this long"..... it tells you WHY this variety will taste different to that variety, who grows it, how it''s produced and which will go best with what.
I recently stayed at a very nice hotel which served honeycomb as part of breakfast. Being clueless and not wanting to appear to do the wrong thing, I gazed longingly every morning, but left it alone. I will be returning soon, armed with the information on page 206 "You can spread it on hot toast, wax and all, and let it melt in".
Sometimes information is pricelss - this book is full of diamonds.'
Customer Review:
Review by: Maureen, 20 May 2009
'What a super book. Extremely wide coverage of everything grown in Britain, including fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, dairy, grains, nuts, etc.
There is a choice of how to use the book - either by what''s in season month by month or by an index. I specially liked the very clear pictures and the fact that it was so easy to find and follow what I was looking for. The relevant page number was listed by the side of each item.
Each item covered all the necessary details from what to look for when buying, how to store, how to prepare and cook, what other things would go well with it and several recipes - some of which sound very appealing.
Recipes included some by well known cooks such as Atul Kochkar, Sophie Grigson and Skye Gyngell. Those This Morning viewers will have seen it on TV recently.
Also loved the fact that it covered some of the less well known vegetables, such as celeriac and salsify, which I have grown but never quite knew what to do with other than use as a basic vegetable. Also a wonderful 2 page spread about mushrooms.
Interspersed with the above are articles about organic box schemes, vegetable farms, Sussex apples and pears, etc. I sat and read it like a novel - so don''t think of it as just a cookery book. Extremely informative and readable! '
Customer Review:
Review by: sallyanne rowe, 01 May 2009
'Looks like a good book nice clear photos and some very tasty recipies.'
are registered and/or unregistered trade marks of