Culinary Pleasures: Cook Books and the Transformation of British Cuisine

Culinary Pleasures takes a unique look at Britain's culinary evolution - a journey expressed through the development of its cook books. This remarkably accessible book spans the diverse panorama of British cooking from Mrs. Beeton to nouvelle cuisine concluding with the rise of the celebrity chef and the emergence of cuisine in all its familiar modernity. What makes this book so extraordinary is the author's ability to 'float adjacent to the historical moment', capturing with subtlety the changes in British cooking, whilst revealing its inextricable link to Britain's cultural shifts in sophistication and taste. From collared calf's head with buttered nettles to egg and avocado pate to fish and porcini pie; from soggy carrots to asparagus al dente, this book has it all. Punctuated throughout with recipes reflective of the period and evocative images, Culinary Pleasures is a complete delight for anyone with an interest in food and constitutes a fascinating record of Britain's changing cultural attitudes.