Spring ragout artichoke hearts turnips broadbeans & peas

Spring ragout seasonal recipe by Stephanie Alexander – from Lantern Cookery Classics series.

What’s Happening

Newsletter 80 – Here I go again

‘Never say never’ one is advised. Wise advice. I find myself writing again. This time it will be a book of family-friendly recipes inspired by what the students in the kitchen garden programs across the country have been preparing and enjoying. I am making adjustments so each recipe will make a family-sized portion rather than… more >

Newsletter 79 – Creeping out of the Covid shell

Although my latest book ‘Home’ was published in October, almost every event to promote it was cancelled. So it has been fun to catch up with friends and events recently. It is always a pleasure to chat with my clever friend and colleague Annie Smithers. Even though she lives a long way away I am… more >

Newsletter 78 – One Plus One

What a pleasure it was to spend several hours with Rosie Batty chatting about my life and the work I am currently doing. We could have gone on for hours. A lot of ground was covered from my earliest years in London in the Swinging Sixties, to the start of my various restaurants, the challenges of… more >

Newsletter 77 – Belated Happy New Year (where did January go?)

The New Year is already well-established and we are told that we must live with Covid. I find it difficult to credit that my granddaughter is now six and is an enthusiastic school student with her Prep year completed mostly in front of a screen. Hasn’t seemed to bother her although she did tell me… more >

Newsletter 76-Bounceback

Our bounceback has coincided with the arrival of spring. A loud chorus of birds wakes me each morning. They swoop and chatter again at sundown. There are birds nesting in one of my crepe myrtle trees, at every turn there is rapid growth of new leaves, the smoke bush is absolutely glorious, and the weather… more >

Newsletter 75 – Special Moments

I have now caressed my new book “Home” and can report that it is all that I had hoped for. The design by Michelle Mackintosh is wonderful and the photography by Armelle Habib absolutely splendid. The publicity is a mix of phone and Zoom. Event after event has had to be cancelled or postponed. I did receive… more >

Newsletter 74 – Waiting for my new book

I am proud to announce the imminent publication of what I think is my nineteenth book. ‘Home’ will be published on September 28. This book has been a joy to write and I have revisited many happy moments. I have indulged myself, spending happy hours in my own library; I have triaged boxes of… more >