The Food & Company Cook Book is all about real honest cooking, drawing on years of experience in catering and cookery demonstrations alongside a great appreciation for local produce in the authors’ native Cumbria. Joan Gate and Margaret Brough are sisters and farmer’s daughters who have been in business together for over 30 years. Their skills, knowledge and love of food all come together in these pages, as they share tried and tested recipes alongside stories of their journey up to now.
Featuring a foreword by Cumbrian-born writer and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, which sings Joan and Margaret’s praises, the book is testament to their hard work and enduring popularity as caterers and demonstrators for events up and down the county. As Melvyn puts it, “This book, like the Lake District out of which it comes, is in a class of its own.”
Each chapter of recipes has a distinct theme, from California Dreaming to Christmas on a Plate and, of course, A Taste of Cumbria. The recipes themselves include meals to cook for big family gatherings, sweet treats to enjoy at coffee mornings with friends, simple yet stunning canapés, and seasonal ideas to take you right through the year in food. There’s also a section dedicated to ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ (or anyone keen on cooking up a storm!) for three-course dinners, complete with suggested wine pairings.
The Food & Company Cook Book is a celebration of Joan and Margaret’s 30 years in the world of catering, but it’s also a font of knowledge for home cooks of all ages to treasure. These farmer’s daughters can teach you how to rustle up the perfect party at home with no fuss and great taste, as well as the simple pleasures of creating food for the family to enjoy together. In short, this truly is home cooking from the heart.
The Food & Company Cook Book is available to purchase from Waterstones (online and in stores), www.foodandcompany.co.uk and www.mezepublishing.co.uk.
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