We've all missed eating out at restaurants during lockdown. Until they're ready to re-open their doors post-pandemic, we'll have to visit vicariously, cooking dishes from our favorite chefs and restaurants at home. Try out recipes from Ireland, India (via the UK), France, and Scotland with the books in this collection.
By Denis Cotter
Published in 1999 and still a favorite. Author Denis Cotter continues to lead the way in seasonal, local, ingredient-focused, vegetable-based cooking of the sort that many chefs have come to emulate in decades since. The book gathers Cotter’s favorite recipes served over the years at Café Paradiso, all of which are very worth making at home.
By Fran Warde
Fran Warde collected many of these recipes from bistro owners during travels to the four corners of France. The result is a hunger-inducing version of ‘France’s Greatest Regional Hits.’ Recipes such as Calf’s Liver with Bacon and Aligot Potatoes (from Aquitaine) and Artichokes Barigoule (from Provence) are the dishes on which fond memories of French holidays are made.
By Nisha Katona
The third cookbook from Lancastrian barrister turned author and restaurateur homes in on dishes that, says Katona, are “all about the food that Indians actually eat,” at home or from street-vendors’ stalls in Indian cities. Some dishes, such as Mowgli Chip Butty, are unashamedly Anglo-Indian. Others, such as Bhel Puri, will transport you straight to India.
Fenella Renwick and Kirsty Scobie’s cookbook, winner of the prestigious The Jane Grigson Trust Award 2020 for a debut title in the UK, is a refreshing read. The book draws the reader into the heart of this small fishing community through its beautiful photography, personal stories, engaging text and unpretentious recipes.
Curated collections from ckbk's editors
"Crab meat and corn is a classic combo for good reason, and in this tasty broth it adds a bit of sweetness to the crab stock base. We like to eat big bowls of it with crusty warm bread. Cook the stock for as long as you can to extract every last bit of flavour from the crab shells." Kirsty Scobie and Fenella Renwick
Chef and restaurateur Denis Cotter opened Café Paradiso in Cork, Ireland, in 1993. It’s been in business for 28 years – a huge achievement in such a fickle industry – and still wins plaudits for doing things differently. The restaurant is closed because of the pandemic, giving Denis time to talk to ckbk about Paradiso’s past, its present – and what the post-pandemic future may hold for restaurants.
Late winter can be an uninspiring time in the kitchen. Spring vegetables are still on the distant horizon, and the icy temperatures call for dishes that can deliver warmth, simplicity and sustenance. Say hello to grains….
Paralympic cycling gold medallist Lora Fachie MBE appeared in a special edition of The Food Programme on BBC Radio 4 about Cooking Blind. Read more about how ckbk is proving to be a boon for Lora and other visually impaired cooks.
