This book is a wonderful romp around the not so quiet streets of London's most affluent neighbourhood; and behind every stucco frontage if they're not talking to, or about each other they're probably having sex or worrying about the property prices, private schools or the ever growing number of Americans cramming themselves into every nook and cranny of the borough.
Rachel Johnson's eye for intimate detail is superb, and anyone remotely familiar with W11 will snort with giggles as we take to the streets of Notting Hill in a story of families, sex, adultery, garden games and the absolute all consuming demands of keeping up with the Billionaire next door.
You know, I fancy that if most people kept kitchen diaries they wouldn't be half as exciting as Nigel Slater's, this is a beautiful book in every way from text, to typography, photography and even the binding. It's overflowing with mouth-wateringly delicious recipes all of which are presented in a bold day to day fashion, so not only do you get recipes and ideas about food that are satisfyingly wholesome but you also get insights into the gardening and shopping habits of the man himself, which I think gives the book real soul, which combines with the recipes to give a reassuringly homely read that does inspire you to get yourself into your local shops and cupboard corners to seek out ingredients that'll make your own food diary that little bit more exciting.
If like me you sat glued to recordings of It's not easy being green on your TiVo you'll love this book by author, inventor and all round classic eccentric Dick Strawbridge, this book isn't so much a how to, rather more a 'we did', which I know disappointed some, but I find the stories of their work at New House Farm inspiring enough for me to do my own further research.
The book does have a reasonably comprehensive list of people and companies they've dealt with in their quest to make their home and lives more green and is gloriously illustrated throughout with Heath Robinson style sketches and photographs of their projects.
Considered the Bible of Italian cooking, and apparently a must-have wedding gift for any new couple, the Silver Spoon is an exciting read which truly does spill over with recipes, thousands of them. By all accounts this is the first time this has been published in English, and I for one am grateful that they did as it's become an instant reference to all things Italian and is rarely in my bookcase for long.
It's nice and straightforward, with every recipe laid out in basic formats ordered by food type covering everything imaginable from vegetarian to meat, fish, offal and shellfish with obligatory coverage of pasta dishes and a real gem in the Italian deserts section, I think even the most apprehensive cook would find this a pleasant and inspiring read; and if I had my way every kitchen would have one!