This year marks 100 years of the Royal British Legion and its support for those who have served in the Armed Forces and their families. To celebrate this, military chefs – with help from some high-profile celebrity supporters, including Rick Stein, Jamie Oliver, Ainsley Harriott, Patti Boulaye, Sophie Thompson, Melissa Hemsley, Cyrus Todiwala and the Hairy Bikers – have provided delicious and authentic recipes from 100 regions around the world in which the Legion has operated: from Aberdeen to Australia and South Yorkshire to Singapore.
Recipes include South African Bobotie, Yorkshire Curd Tart, Leicestershire Pork & Stilton Pie and Gambian Domoda. What makes this more than just a cookbook is that every local recipe is partnered by the story of a local hero. It is a moving and humbling read: Edith Cavell, executed by firing squad during the First World War for helping over 200 wounded troops escape into neutral territory; Pilot Officer Adesanya Kwamina Hyde DFC CBE, who refused a morphine injection and navigated his crew back from a bombing mission with a piece of shrapnel from an anti-aircraft shell lodged in his shoulder, and the inspirational Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised over £32 million for NHS charities during the height of the pandemic.
“I’m delighted to have contributed a recipe to Cooking With Heroes, and feel especially proud that the book will be raising vital funds for the Royal British Legion.” ~ TV chef, Cyrus Todiwala OBE
Cooking with Heroes is available in all major bookstores including Blackwells, Waterstones and WH Smith, to purchase RRP £19.95 - with all profits (£5 per sale) going to support The Royal British Legion. It is also on sale directly via the publisher here.
[Items in this article may have been gifted to Chatting Food. No financial payment has been made to feature in this article, and entries to the feature are made independently by members of the Editorial Team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases]
Deputy Editor, Chatting Food London: Amanda David
Freelance food writer, copywriter and blogger Amanda David is dedicated to sharing news about London’s restaurants, bars, events and general wonderfulness. It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.
She has also just launched a new website, A Cook's Bookshelf, reviewing cookbooks old and new, with side-by-side photographs of recipe illustrations next to her home-cooked version.
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