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RECOMMENDED READING
See our suggested reading list on gardening, outstanding buildings & so much more
Sissinghurst: An Unfinished History
Author: Adam Nicolson
Hardcover, 400 pages
Publisher: HarperPress (2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0007240548
Sissinghurst is the famous garden created by the novelist Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson in the ruins of an Elizabethan mansion. The garden itself, the house and Vita’s life have all been subjects of books before, mostly by her son Nigel Nicolson, who died four years ago. So what does her grandson Adam, the new tenant of Sissinghurst, have to add to the story? A great deal, as it turns out in this gripping and beautifully written book. Firstly, his is a serious history of Sissinghurst Castle (now owned by the National Trust) and the land around it. But – as Adam Nicolson’s return coincided with a resurgence in interest in traditional farming methods – this is also the story of his plans to revive the farm: to set up an eco-system whereby everything that is consumed in the restaurant or bought from the gift shop is home-grown. The book ends with the author’s dream within reach: new hedges, orchards and vegetables have been planted. His conclusion: “I don’t remember anything in my own life which has made me look at the world with such a surge of optimism and hope.”
Houses of the National Trust: Outstanding Buildings of Britain
Author: Lydia Greeves
Hardcover, 400 pages
Publisher: National Trust Books (2008)
ISBN-13: 978-1905400669
The National Trust acquired its first historic property in 1896 for approx. EUR10 (a 14th-century house at Alfriston in Sussex). Today the Trust cares for a wealth of houses and historic buildings of all types, and this is a captivating guide to some of the greatest architectural treasures in the country. Every period is covered, whether the medieval stronghold of Bodiam Castle, the Tudor eccentricity of Hardwick Hall, 18th century grandeur at Kedleston Hall or the more humble former dwellings of John Lennon at Mendips. The book is also teeming with stories about the people who lived and worked in these houses: wealthy collectors such as Charles Wade at Snowshill, captains of industry (William Armstrong at Cragside) or prime ministers (Winston Churchill at Chartwell). The book covers 250 properties and – illustrated with glorious images from the National Trust Library – it is an essential guide to the built heritage of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A Day at El Bulli
Author: Ferran Adrià, Juli Soler, and Albert Adrià
Hardcover, 600 pages
Publisher: Phaidon Press (2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0714848839
Driving up the coast road from Barcelona towards France, you pass a low, whitewashed little Catalonian restaurant with a view over a pretty bay. The sort of place where you might get a decent paella, you think to yourself. But appearances can be deceptive. This is the legendary El Bulli, regularly voted Best Restaurant in the World. With this book, headchef Ferran Adrià – born 1962 in Barcelona and often referred to as the Salvador Dalí of the kitchen – offers for the first time an insight into his revolutionary cooking. The book covers a 24-hour period in the life of the restaurant. From daybreak at 6.15 am until the last guests depart at 2 am, it reveals the creative process, innovative philosophy and extraordinary techniques of the multi-award-winning restaurant. Aimed at food enthusiasts as well as industry professionals, the book includes 1000 photographs, menus and recipes. Fascinating, even if you decide that some things cannot be cooked at home.
The Big Fat Duck Cookbook
Author: Heston Blumenthal
Hardcover, 532 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing (2008)
ISBN-13: 978-1596915503
This huge, exquisitely designed volume is all about the second best restaurant in the world. Not surprisingly, “The Fat Duck” in Bray near Windsor is owned by Ferran Adrià’s nearest disciple, Heston Blumenthal: entirely self-taught, widely acknowledged to be a genius, inventor of signature dishes such as snail porridge and bacon-and-egg ice-cream. His success has been borne out of his pure obsession, endless invention and a childish curiosity into how things work – whether how smells affect taste or how temperature is distributed in the centre of a soufflé. The book follows the history of the restaurant and includes 50 of his signature recipes, among them his famed sardine on toast sorbet, salmon poached with liquorice and chocolate-wine. The book is a complete account of everything Heston Blumenthal has done or tried to do at his restaurant. It carries remarkable illustrations, fabulous photography and is rich with detail and analysis. It is also very well written.
Nigella Christmas: Food Family, Friends, Festivities
Author: Nigella Lawson
Hardcover, 288 pages
Publisher: Chatto & Windus (2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0701183226
At Christmas, when the heady aroma of spices and citrus fruits fill the house, baking comes into its own. And the Domestic Goddess makes it all seem like a real pleasure. Simple and stress-ree. She is back with a ravishing new book full of mouthwatering recipes. Cocktails, canapes, salads, Christmas dinner, Christmas cake, biscuits, preserves home made presents – Nigella Lawson has every aspect of the festive period covered. Most of her reliable, practical and easy-to-follow recipes – such as Pumpkin and Goat’s Cheese Lasagne and the delicious sounding Tiramisu layer cake – are applicable for other (mainly wintery) times of the year. Full colour photographs; there is also a comprehensive list of suppliers.
