Sue Baker's view...

Anyone who reverts to seasonal cooking and using British produce regains that excitement when the first peas are swelling in their pods, the strawberries starting to blush, that first clutch of new potatoes unearthed. You don’t get that from the supermarket! Mark Hix captures this perfectly, celebrating the best in his new book British Seasonal Food. The gorgeous illustrations compliment a recipe selection that uses some classic ingredients but also introducing new and unjustly neglected ones too.  Reducing your carbon footprint, enjoying some of the world’s finest produce and taking pleasure in cooking with the seasons – all in one book.

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Food in England: A Complete Guide to the Food that Made Us Who We Are, Dorothy Hartley
Food Britannia, Andrew Webb £25.00 Hardback 544 pages Random House Books 5th May 2001 9781847946232

Synopsis

Most ingredients are now available all year round, flown in from afar as necessary, but there is no doubt that food eaten in season - and preferably grown as close to home as possible - tastes far, far better. Mark Hix cares passionately about British food and is keen for readers to experience the excitement that cooking seasonally offers. In British Seasonal Food, he draws attention month-by-month to the homegrown ingredients at their seasonal best. He provides information on where to source the foods, how to prepare and cook them, and suggests simple ways to serve them - to enjoy their flavour to the full. For each featured ingredient, he also presents a selection of inventive mouth-watering recipes - Chilled Pea and Lovage Soup, Fried Green Tomatoes in Beer Batter, Roast Goose with Sprout Tops and Quince Sauce, Autumn Fruits with Sloe Gin Jelly. Superbly photographed by Jason Lowe and with original drawings that capture the mood of the seasons, this book is guaranteed to become a British classic.

About the Author

In 2008 Mark Hix opened Hix Oyster and Chop House and Hix Oyster and Fish House in Lyme Regis, Dorset. In 2009 Hix opened in London's Soho to rave reviews. His latest restaurant opened within Selfridges in London in March 2010, Hix Restaurant and Champagne Bar. His commendations include GQ's Chef of the Year and Tatler's Restaurateur of the Year 2009. He writes for the Independent on Saturday Magazine and Country Life. Previous books include British Regional Food, winner of both a Guild of Food Writers' Award and the Andre Simon Book Awards. Mark has made numerous television appearances, most notably BBC 2's Great British Menu. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation