Ignotus      
CULINA Famulatrix Medicinae:
OR, Receipts in Modern Cookery; WITH A MEDICAL COMMENTARY, WRITTEN BY IGNOTUS, AND REVISED BY A. HUNTER, M.D. F.R.S. L.&E. Magistre artis, Ingeniique Largitor Venter ---------Perseur. THE FIFTH EDITION, CONSIDERABLY ENLARGED. YORK: Printed by T.Wilson and E.Spence High-Ousgate. For J.Mawman, in the Poultry, London, and for Wilson and Spence, York; Sold also by J.White, and J.Murray, Fleet-street, and J.Harding, St James Street, London; A.Constable and Co. Edinburgh: and by J.Todd, Sotheran and Son, and J.Wolstenholme, York. 1807
12mo. 202x122mm. 1fep. [1] Frontispiece of a Roman stewpan. Title page with an age shadow of the stewpan. [1] 1p Dedication. [1] (1)6-14 Preface. (1)16-296. (1)298-310. (1)2-20 Men and Manners. 21-22 A domestic character. 1fep. A nice modern rebind in dark calf and marbled boards. Spine with raised bands, gilt lines and two black morocco labels with gilt lettering. Very clean, with original untrimmed and uncut pages. A very collectible and desirable copy.
- In Sophie Schneideman’s tenth catalogue of rare books she informs: -- Dr. Hunter, a Scottish physician, helped to establish the York Lunatic Asylum, and to be honest, there is something of Bedlam about this book. It is a highly opinionated book and a marvellous read. Each recipe is followed by ‘Ignotus’s’ or rather ‘Hunter’s’ observations on it, often including the effect on the body. Of Mock Turtle Soup he writes “This is a most diabolical dish, and only fit for the Sunday dinner of a rustic, who is to work the six following days in a ditch bottom. It is the very essence of Pandora’s box. So, – Get thee behind me Satan!”. The appendix gives 267 pieces of advice on Men and Manners. All pithy and often witty, one declares “Never enter an auction room, for there you will tempted to buy what you do not want”, another “Do not blame a man for hard drinking, if he belongs to a thirsty family”.-- Quite why Hunter implies the work is written by 'Ignotus' which is Latin for: unknown, obscure, ignorant and ignoble, when he was the author is unknown. Possibly he spent a little too long with the inmates.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11149

Ignotus       - The very rare first edition.
CULINA Famulatrix Medicinae:
OR, RECEIPTS IN COOKERY, WORTHY THE NOTICE OF Those MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, who ride in their CHARIOTS with a FOOTMAN behind, and who receives TWO-GUINEA FEES from their RICH and LUXURIOUS PATIENTS. By IGNOTUS. ------ Propera Stomachum Iaxare Saginis, Et tua servatum in Saecula Rhombum. Juv. YORK: Printed by T.Wilson and R.Spence, High-Ousrgate; and sold by J.Mawman, Bookseller in the Poultry, London. 1804.
FIRST EDITION. 12mo. 1fep. [1] Frontispiece of a pig. Title page. [1] 1p Dedication. [1] (1)6-12 Preface. (1)14-226. (1)228-235 Contents. [1] 1fep. Quarter modern red calf with marbled boards and calf tips. Spine with blind tooling and gilt lines with a black label and gilt lettering. Internally clean with the whole text block slightly but nicely age browned. Overall a very pleasing copy.
- COPAC's full records cite only one first edition of 1804 at York. Oxford quotes a 2nd - 1805, 4th - 1806, 5th - 1807, new - 1810. The author was A.Hunter, M.D., F.R.S., who practised at York. The rather quaint and sincere book dedication states 'To those Gentleman who freely give two quineas for a Turtle Dinner at the Tavern, when they might have a more wholesome one at Home for ten shillings'. One seriously doubts that those very gentleman who can afford two guineas (£68.oo in today's money) for a Turtle dinner are ever likely to read a cookbook, and rarely cook at home, especially such a seriously complicated meal to prepare, that first starts with the purchase of a fresh Turtle. Oxford 143. Cagle 555. Bitting no first but a 2nd and a late 1820 new ed. Worldcat cites many other editions, but only two firsts; one of which is from the Elizabeth Robins Pennell Collection at the Library of Congress.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11168

Ignotus.      
CULINA Famulatrix Medicinae:
OR, Receipts in Modern Cookery; WITH A MEDICAL COMMENTARY, WRITTEN BY IGNOTUS, AND REVISED BY A. HUNTER, M.D. F.R.S. L.&E. Magistre artis, Ingeniique Largitor Venter ---------Perseur. THE FOURTH EDITION. YORK: Printed by T.Wilson and E.Spence High-Ousgate. For J.Mawman, in the Poultry, London, and for Wilson and Spence, York; Sold also by J.White, and J.Murray, Fleet-street, and J.Harding, St James Street, London; A.Constable and Co. Edinburgh: and by J.Todd, Sotheran and Son, and J.Wolstenholme, York. 1806
12mo. 181x113mm. Marbled paste-down and end-paper. [1] 1fep. [1] Frontispiece of a pig with the heading slightly cropped. Title page with an ink inscription at the top slightly cropped. [1] Dedication. [1] (1)6-14 Preface. (1)16-291. 292-293 Advertisement. [1] (1)296-308 Contents. 1fep. [1] Marbled end-paper and paste-down. Quarter light brown calf with slightly faded marbled boards. Gilt lines with gilt tooling in the compartments. Two labels, one red and the other black with gilt lettering. Very lightly age browned throughout with the text block sometime cropped without loss. Overall a pleasing copy.
- Alexander Hunter (Ignotus) an ingenious physician and naturalist, was born in 1730. He studied at Edinburgh, where he took the degree of M.D. Afterwards he established himself as a medical practitioner first at Gainsborough, then at Beverly, and finally at York, where he attained high reputation in his profession, and was a principal contributor to the foundation of an asylum for lunatics. He was a fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh. He died in 1809, in the 80th year of his age. – Besides this title on offer here his other works are: • Georgical Essays; in which the Food of Plants is particularly considered, several new Composts recommended, and other important articles of Husbandry explained upon the Principles of Vegetation. • Outlines of Agriculture; addressed to Sir John Sinclair, Bart., President of the Board of Agriculture, York, 1795. • A New Method of raising Wheat for a series of years on the same Land. York,1796. • An Illustration of the analogy between Vegetable and Animal Parturition. Lond. 1797. • Men and Manners; or, Concentrated Wisdom. York, 1809. He also found time to write and revise a new edition of Evelyn’s 'Sylva and Terra' London, 1812, in 2 volumes. A prolific and impressive output

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11150

Jarrin.   W.A.    
THE ITALIAN CONFECTIONER
OR, COMPLETE ECONOMY OF DESSERTS: CONTAINING THE ELEMENTS OF THE ART, ACCORDING TO THE MOST MODERN AND APPROVED PRACTICE. By G.A. JARRIN, CONFECTIONER, NEW BOND STREET. THIRD EDITION, CORRECTED AND ENLARGED. LONDON: WILLIAM H. AINSWORTH, OLD BOND STREET. 1827.
First revised edition, corrected and expanded, the third edition overall. Octavo. 234x147mm. Frontispiece. Title page (cropped at both ends without loss of text) III-IV Preface to the third edition. V-IX. Preface to the first edition. X-XX. Contents. 1-260. 261-270 Index. 271-276. Description of the plates. 2 folding plates with a total of 37 Confectionery tools. 1 fep. Half brown calf, with raised bands to spine, with gilt lines and red label with gilt lettering. Marbled boards. Internally quite clean except for a little browning to the Frontis and the edge of one of the plates. Overall a very nice copy.
- - On the frontispiece we are informed W. A. (William Alexis) Jarrin was born in Colorno, Italy on 25th March 1784. He arrived in England in 1817 and published the 1st edition just three years later by 1820. One assumes that the original text would have been brought from Italy in Italian. The book sits comfortably within an English tradition of publishing recipes for food and confectionery, but it reveals more about the techniques involved and about the character of the author, than was usual in the genre. Proud of his ingenuity as an inventor, Jarrin described inventions and improvements he had devised for making confectionery. 'The Epicure's Almanack' of 1815 informs us that there were many high-class confectioners in London's smart West-end streets. One of the more famous being Gunter's of Berkley Square. Tracing its origins back to the 1760s when it was opened by Domenico Negri, as the famous 'Pot and Pineapple' confectionery shop. It went through many incarnations. From Negri and Witton (or just Witton) to Negri and Gunter, becoming Gunter's by 1806. Jarrin was employed there for some time and it played a significant part in his career. On the verso of the 'Italian Confectioner' title page, there is an advertisement for 'The French Cook' by Louis Eustache Ude where we are informed that Ude's book is an 'Invaluable Companion to Jarrin's Italian Confectioner'. (Ude was the famous Chef de Cuisine of Crockfords Club, which was just 300 yards from Gunters confectionery shop. It was/is common for Chefs then and even still today, to visit each other on their afternoon break in the middle of their daily split shifts). Jarrin's book is an elegant production with many precise, good and unusual recipes. The Italian Confectioner was reprinted at least ten times (the last in 1861, after his death), and was updated with new material on several occasions. Earlier editions incorporated small but often telling additions: for example, observations on managing ice-wells and the introduction of new instruments such as the saccharometer. For the 1844 edition he undertook a major reorganization of the material and added many new recipes" (ODNB). It is an important item in any collection of cookery books.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 10973

Jenks.   James     Rare first edition of an uncommon book.
The Complete Cook:
TEACHING THE Art of Cookery In All Its Branches; And To Spread A TABLE, In A Useful, Substantial And Splendid Manner, At All Seasons In The Year. With Practical instructions To Choose, Buy, Dress and Carve all Sorts of PROVISIONS. Far exceeding any Thing of the Kind yet Published. CONTAINING The greatest Variety of Aproved Receipts in COOKERY, PASTRY, CONFECTIONARY (a perpendicular double line) PRESEERVING, PICKLING, COLLARING &cc. AND Dishes for Lent and Fast-Days. A Variety of Made Dishes. And to Dress both the Real and Mock TURTLE. With an APPENDIX Teaching the Art of Making WINE, MEAD, CYDER, SHRUB, STRONG, CORDIAL and MEDICINE WATERS. Brewing Malt Liquors. The Management and Breeding of Poultry and Bees AND RECEIPTS for Preserving and Restoring Health and Relieving Pain, and for Taking out Stains, Preserving Furniture, Cleaning Plate &c. (a single line) The Use of Families. (a single line) By JAMES JENKS, Cook. (a single line) LONDON: Printed for E, and C. DILLY in the Poultry. MDCLXV111.
FIRST EDITION. 1768. Duodecimo. 166 x 98 mm. 1 fep. Title page. (1)iv-x Introduction. (1)xii-xx Contents. (1)2-5 Market Tables. [1] (1)8-314. (1)316-364 Appendix. 1fep. Recent tan half calf, marbled paper boards, black morocco label to spine. Partially erased contemporary ownership inscription to the verso of the title page. Book stamp of I. A. Farrer on p.314. Text block a little shaken but sound, edges and tips occasionally nicked. Rubbing to extremities. Some slight foxing to contents, spot of grease to upper margin of a couple of leaves of gathering L, upper margin quite closely trimmed; a good copy of an oft-handled book.
- The rare first edition of this practical book of recipes and domestic management. As with many cookbooks of the period this work combines traditional English recipes with French cuisine dishes replicated "in the French manner", as well as introducing more exotic dishes, such as "Turtle the West-Indian way" (p. 117). The work also contains medicinal recipes, a number of which are accompanied by the instruction that they must be taken "at the changes of the moon" for full efficacy. Also in the appendix it has an unusual guide for keeping bees. Showing signs on page 204 of a previous owner's practical use of this copy, they have in the recipe for "A Poor Man's Pudding", highlighted the ingredients "nutmeg grated" and "some rose water or sack" by neatly drawing a line through them in ink: Thereby making sure this really is a poor man's dish. This edition is uncommon institutionally and in public, with just six copies traced in the UK, and seven copies appearing at auction. Bitting 245; Cagle 780; A. W. Oxford, English Cookery Books to the year 1850, p. 97-8.

click on image to enlarge
Information

category
ref number: 11291

Jewry.   Mary     - In wonderful original condition.
Warnes Model Cookery
AND HOUSEKEEPING BOOK, CONTAINING COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT. COMPILED AND EDITED BY MARY JEWRY. With original Illustrations, printed in colours NEW EDITION (A small printers device) LONDON: FREDERICK WARNE AND CO. AND NEW YORK. (All rights reserved.)
12mo. 184x127mm. 1fep. [1] Frontis of 8 made dishes. Title page. [1] 1p Preface. 1p Contents and Illustrations. (1)2 – 147. (1)149 – 156 Analytical Index. 1fep. Many illustrations in-text and four coloured plates printed by Kronheim of made dishes. Boards in bright original condition blind-stamped in bold black lettering. The spine and ½” of the back-board is sun bleached. Mint condition – as new. N/d – circa 1880-1890,
- Given the as-new condition of this book albeit with the sunned spine, it is obvious it has been on a shelf untouched for many years. It is also obvious it has never been used in a kitchen either. Little is known about Mary Jewry except she was possibly born about 1830 in Oxfordshire. The in-text illustrations are very similar to Mrs Beeton’s but it is just cookery and not as big nor varied as Beeton’s Household Management. Frederick Warne was founded in 1865 by a bookseller turned publisher using his own name. The new venture replaced an earlier association between Warne and George Routledge who also went on to found his own publishing company. Jewry’s book gives the impression that it is in competition to that other famous publisher – Ward Lock who only started publishing in 1856. They bought out “Household Management” from Beeton’s husband Sam, after her untimely death. Jewry's book is also a shadow of Beeton's and that is why they are fairly common. Appreciative collectors of cookery books however, would find it hard to pass on this copy if they found it at a book-fair.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11196

JOHNSON.   MARY     Rare at auction.
Madam JOHNSON's Present; Or, the best INSTRUCTIONS:
FOR [YOUNG WOMEN,] (printed in red) IN Useful and Universal Knowledge, WITH [A Summary of the late Marriage Act,] (printed in red), and Instructions how to marry pursuant thereto. Digested under the following HEADS. 1. An Estimate of the Ex-penses of a Family in the middling Station of Life. 11. The Art and Terms of Carving Fish, Fowl, and Flesh. 111. A Bill of Fare for e-very Month in the Year for Dinner and Supper, and also for extraordinary Occasions. (a single vertical line) 1V. The young Woman's Guide to Knowledge. V. A new English Spell-ing Dictionary. V1. The Compleat Mar-ket-woman. V11. The Cook's Guide for dressing all Sorts of Flesh, Fowl and Fish. V111. Pickling, Pastry, and Confectionary. (end columns) [With several useful TABLES, being the compleatest Book of its Kind ever published.](printed in red) (a single horizontal line) The Compiler, Madam JOHNSON, in order to make this Book come as cheap as possible to the Purchasers, has, out of her Benevolence, fixed the Price at 1s 6d. Bound, Tho' it contains double the Quantity that is usually sold for that Sum. (a double horizontal line). [LONDON] (in red print). Printed for M.Cooper. Pater-noster-row; and C. Sympson, at the Bible, Chancery-lane. 1754. Price 1s 3d, bound 1s 6d. Also containing a loosely inserted letter addressed to the late bookseller Mike McKirdy, owner of the now defunct 'CooksBooks', in a reply from the Brotherton Library, Leeds University, to a query about the text of this cookery book.
FIRST EDITION as such. Large 12mo. 170 X 103 mm. no fep. Frontispiece on verso, recto blank. Title page. [1] 2p un-numbered, Preface. (1)vi-xiii. (1)2-222. 2p Table of Contents. 1fep. Title page browned top margin - no loss. Very slightly age-browned. Full contemporary brown calf with nice patina. Spine cracked at front cover, but holding well, with small pieces at both ends missing. MacLean pp.75-77. Bitting p.247. Cagle p.782. Oxford p.83. Vicaire p.465. Provenance: Ink inscription - E. Guertz. 1754 on recto of Frontis.
- Researching Mary Johnson's book, there was, besides the heading and chapters on the book itself surprising little information about her. In Oxford page p83, there is a book titled 'The Young Woman's Companion' dated 1753. It is compiled by Mary Johnson, proclaiming her for many years a Superintendent of a Lady of quality's Family in the city of York. Oxford states further that there are many points of difference from 'The Young Woman's Companion' and this copy of 'Madam Johnson's Present'. MacLean even presents them as two different books. One thing is clear that Mary Johnson was in a position of management. As such, the books are compilations of previous facts, the headings pertaining to important knowledge assembled for instructions to her staff, which was then taken to its conclusion; That of an interesting and wide-ranging printed domestic and cookery book.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11162

Jourdan-Lecointe.   Dr    
Le Cuisinier des Cuisiniers.
1000 RECETTES DE CORDON BLUE FACILES ET ECONOMIQUES d'apres les decouveries recentes de la cuisine francaise, provencale, anglaise, italienne, suisse et allemande; 1° Patisserie; petit-fours; 2° office: confitures, sirops, fruits confits, li-quers; 3° filtration de l'eau et autres liquides; 4° procedes pour rafrai-chir l'eau et faire la glace; 5° conservation des substances alimentaires cuites ou a'l'etat frais, d'apres la methode d'Appert, par le dessiccation, le fumage, la salaison, etc; 6° choix, conservation et emploi des vins; 7° recettes pour faire des boissons economiques, grog et eaux gazeuses; 8° physiologie des pates alimentaires, des fromages, des poissons, du melon, etc; 9° choux et dissection des viandes et des poissons; 10° ser-vice de la table, ordre et soins de proprete; 11° dictonnaire des termes de cuisine; 12° musee des menages, choix d'ustensiles de cuisine et de menage dont l'usage merite d'etre recommande. AVEC L'INDICATION DE L'INFLUENCE DE CHAQUE METS SUR LA SANTE PAR M. LE DOCTEUR JOURDAN-LECOINTE. "A trente-deux aus, mon estomac ne digerait plus aucune espece de mets travailles par nos meilleurs cui-siniers: j'essayai de les preparer moi-meme sous un maitre habile qui dirigea mes premieres essais. Apres quinze aus d'experience et d'analyses sur nos preparations alimentaires, j'ai recuelli un grande nombre d'observa-tions sur cette mattiere importante. <> A L'USAGE DE TOUTE LES FORTUNES. QUATROZIEME EDITION, revue par r. de L, auteur de plusieurs procedes relatifs a'la conservation des substances alimentaires. ORNEE D'UN GRAND NOMBRE DE GRAVURES SUR BOIS. PARIS, L' MAISON, EDITEUR, RUE DE TOUNON, 17. 1856. L'editeur se reserve le droit de reproduction et de traduction.
190x125x45mm. 1fep. Half-title and on verso Frontispiece. Title page - on verso Division de l'ouvrage. 2p Au Lecteur. (1)4-24 Table Generale. (1)26-36 Table de Service. (1)38-645. [1] 1p Ouvrages Recommandes. [1] 1fep. The front and back covers are the original decorated cardboard ones, age browned but still clearly visible. The frontispiece is an exact copy of the front cover. The spine has been relaid in modern dark brown calf, with raised bands, gilt tooled devices in the compartments with two labels in red and green morrocco respectively, both with gilt lettering. Very clean inside except for the last chapter; Musee des Menages p612-645 which is evenly but lightly foxed throughout due to bad paper. All pages are original untrimmed size with some uncut. A nice copy overall.
- Docteur Jourdan-Lecointe published three cookery/gastronomic books… this one, ‘Le Cuisinier des cuisiniers’ which was first printed and published 1825. Also ‘La Cuisine de santé’. 3 volumes. First edition, Paris 1789. Cagle holds a re-issued copy of ‘La Cuisine de santé’, re-titled ‘La Cuisinier Royale ou Cuisine de Sante’ and dated 1792. He also informs that no other copy has been located. ‘La pâtisserie de santé’ was originally published in Paris, 1790. Cagle has an un-recorded third edition of 1793. Vicaire records the 1792 edition.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 11152

Kent.   Elizabeth Grey, Countess of     - A 17th century 'ladies closet' revealed.
A Choice Manual, or rare secrets in physick and chirugery;
Collected, & practised by the Right Honourable the Countess of Kent, Late deceased. Whereto are added several Experiments of the vertue of Gascons powder, and Lapis contra Yarvam by a Professor of Physick. As also most exquisite ways of Preserving, Conserving, Candying, etc. The Nineteenth Edition. London, Printed for H. Mortlock at the Phoenix in St. Pauls Churchyard. 1687. WITH A SECOND PART: A True Gentlewomans DELIGHT. Wherein is contain'd all manner of COOKERY. Together with: Preserving, Conserving, Drying, and Candying. Very necessary for all Ladies and Gentlewomen. Published by W.G. Gent. LONDON, Printed for Henry Mortlock, at the Phoenix in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1687.
Small 12mo. Portrait frontispiece. (it has been bound in on the recto instead of the usual verso) Title page. 2pp Epistle by W.J. 2pp 'To the Reader' 10pp 'Contents' (1-234) THE 2ND PART: Separate pagination - 6pp 'Table of Contents' Title page. 2pp Epistle by W.J. 2pp 'To the Reader' 14pp 'Contents' (1-140) Contemporary black goatskin boards re-laid, surface quite worn but with a nice patina. Dark calf, blind ruled spine re-laid, blind fillet border on sides, re-cased using old paper, new sewn headband, very sound. Internally very clean with mild overall aging.
- Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kent, born December 7th 1582 - died 1651, née Lady Elizabeth Talbot, was the wife of Henry Grey, 8th Earl of Kent. She was a daughter of Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury and Mary Cavendish. She married Grey on November 16, 1601, at St Martin's-in-the-Fields. They had no children, and the Earl died in 1639. Afterward she is thought to have married the writer, John Selden, who had worked for the Earl. After her death, her collection of medical recipes was published as 'A Choice Manual, or Rare Secrets in Physick and Chirurgery Collected and Practised by the Right Honourable the Countess of Kent, late deceased'. Her collection of cookery recipes were also added to the book as a second part. It was an interest she shared with her younger sister, Alethea Howard, Countess of Arundel. Sometimes, complete and separately bound copies of the 2nd part - 'A True Gentlewoman's Delight' are sold at auction, one such being offered at Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 2006. However complete copies like this one with both parts present are rare and much more desirable. This book, because of its small size (not much bigger than a miniature) and having the original cover, with the frontis of the Countess's rather crude but interesting portrait and the thick text block with under-developed remedies and recipes, has the ability to stop a person in their tracks. Keeping in mind the method now to digitally produce very glossy, high resolution, colourful cookery books, that on reflection, when held against this very old book, gives one a sharp sense of both that time and now, and the amazing changes to our world in those 323 intervening years. It also makes one ponder on how our endeavors will be viewed over 300 years from now; with the same sense of incredulous wonder I should imagine!

click on image to enlarge
Information

Antiquarian category
ref number: 10933

KERRIDGE.   TOM     - Signed by the Author.
THE HAND AND FLOWERS COOKBOOK.
H & F Photography by CHRISTIAN BARNETT. BLOOMSBURY ABSOLUTE. LONDON * OXFORD * NEW YORK * DELHI * SYDNEY.
FIRST EDITION. 2020. 270 x 210 x 35. Inside cover and fep. double-page b/w photograph of the kitchen during service. [1] Half-title with Tom Kerridge's signature. Verso Frontis piece of Tom cooking. Title page. Verso a b/w photograph of Tom and Liam Gallagher. (1) Dedication. Verso night-time photograph of The Hand & Flowers pub. 1p Contents. Verso b/w photograph of Tom. 9-21 Introduction. 22-28 A series of b/w images of twenty-four hours in the Kitchen. 29-410. 411-419 Index. 420-427 Thanks. 1 double page b/w photograph of the kitchen being washed-down after evening service. 430 -431 double page About the Author with a b/w photograph of Tom. Verso with Printer's details. 1fep. Back cover the same as the front with a double-page b/w photograph of the kitchen during service. The full white strong hard covers and spine with b/w text. Very good condition; as new.
- Tom Kerridge is an unusual chef. The introduction to this book alone, is in itself a fascinating read. He is a highly acclaimed cook trained in fine-dining kitchens. His love of pubs and the bonhomie of locals and neighbour's drinking, chatting and enjoying boozy banter and laughter, is the deep 'raison d'etre' behind the 'Hand and Flowers Pub' in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. In the introduction, Kerridge explains: "The pub dining scene broke the 'posh barrier' down [from high-end fine dining establishments] and made it possible for people to go out and eat simple food in lovely, un-stuffy environments". At the relatively young age of 31 years, he and his wife Beth, gained the tenancy and opened the pub in 2005. Tom's fusion of high-end simply presented, flavour-driven cooking, unexpectedly, ten months later in 2006, gained him his first Michelin Star. An extraordinary feat. Behind his ready ability to have a laugh, Kerridge's easy nature hides a shrewd and intelligent operator. He tells us that in the beginning before opening 'Hand and Flowers', he wrote to Michelin and enclosed his CV and also explaining the thoughts behind his pub opening. This cuts out immediately the wait that owners or chefs of most serious, ambitious eateries experience while they depend on slow 'word of mouth' to alert the Michelin inspectors. The engrossing Introduction gives a very well described idea of just how tough the building of the pub business was for Tom and Beth. He notes four qualities needed; Consistency, Drive, Character and Teamwork all backed up by sheer bloody-mindedness of never, ever accepting 'that will do'. This ethos is behind most successful ventures in any field of endeavour. Tom Kerridge changed the face of great cooking. He had the strength of conviction to bring it to the local pub. His ongoing focused efforts on the quality of his cooking are mirrored in Jay Fai's Thai Street food stall in Bangkok, where her famous Crab Omelette among other dishes has gained its first Michelin star. From a specific English pub to a specific Thai Street food stall, the tastes are completely different, but the desire to give of their best and to please their customers is the very same admirable intent. A very good cookbook.

click on image to enlarge
Information

Modern category
ref number: 11265