Annie Bell

I cut my teeth on this book, methodically cooking my way through every section. It is full of fabulous, exuberant dishes, and the way the book is structured is both whimsical and unique.

This book is to do with a spirit or sentiment, rustic cooking at its most romantic, it inspires, and I will always feel soothed by its lyrical prose.

This is the ultimate 'how to', no other cookbook seeking to instruct comes close to the meticulous and methodical approach. It is a lifetime achievement. I am forever referring back to this book.

I love all of Olney's cookbooks but this in particular, that I feel is particularly close to his heart. It captures the life and culture of the area of France of which he was so fond and attached, through the kitchen of the remarkable Lulu and her family. This is Provencal cookery at its greatest and most genuine

Nada preceeded the trend for all things Middle Eastern, and she is the real thing. A fabulous home cook, her dishes are authentic, well-researched and beautifully balanced. She is my go-to whenever I want a Lebanese dish or some other from this region.

Nigella initiated a turning in the tide of how we perceive cooking, and time spent in the kitchen. Her ability to welcome and encourage us back into this environment, as the friend who is there at our side, is a unique talent. She manages to instil this into every dish she offers us.

Without a doubt the greatest book written on the subject. I love the exploratory nature of this book, it is full of wanderings down hidden lanes and avenues. If ever I buy a cut that I am unsure about how to prepare, this is where I head, and come out wiser having dipped between the covers.

The simplicity and style of Alice's cooking redefined our expectations, and in the 1980s it marked a radical departure to what we had seen before. Her opportunistic and seasonal approach are still as relevant today, and her ideas as fresh. She is one of the truest voices in the kitchen.

This captures the spirit of retro cooking, with a glamour and panache that no other cooks can match. Together these authors gave a new sense of heritage to traditional dishes, that might otherwise have disappeared. It was the start of an ongoing trend, but they were the originators.

Nigel has redefined cookery writing, he is unique. His recipes are as much about a style of prose as instruction, he offers ideas that cooks can make their own. And Appetite takes this particular talent to its logical extreme, it is a lovely book, a charming, lyrical read that leaves you in no doubt about what you want to cook for supper.