Culinary Pleasures

Culinary Pleasures takes a unique look at Britain's culinary evolution - a journey expressed through the development of its cook books.


This wonderfully accessible book spans the diverse panorama of British cooking, from Mrs Beeton to nouvelle cuisine, concluding with the rise of the 'celebrity chef' and our attendant obsession with ever-fancier and ultra-modern forms of food preparation.

What makes this book particularly extraordinary is Nicola Humble's ability to 'float adjacent to the historical moment', capturing with a subtle eye all the great changes in British cooking down the years, whilst also revealing its inextricable link to Britain's cultural shifts in sophistication and taste. From collared calf's head with buttered nettles and soggy carrots to asparagus al dente, this book has it all.

Punctuated throughout with recipes reflective of their period as well as evocative images, 'Culinary Pleasures' is a complete delight for anyone with an interest in food, and also constitutes a fascinating record of Britain's ever-evolving cultural attitudes.