Hello everyone. Well, it is the end of the first full week here on The Kitchen Bookshelf and the beginning of the first subscriber newsletter.
The hope is that these newsletters will give you all a snapshot of what’s been happening on The Kitchen Bookshelf over the last week, and draw your attention to upcoming cookbook club books, events etc. I’ll also be updating you here on what else I am up to and making sure you hear first about my book tour dates for my latest book.
These are early days for The Kitchen Bookshelf. So I just want to take a moment to say two really important things:
Firstly, thank you so much for being part of this. I’ve known ever since the Borough Market Cookbook Club ended last year that I wanted to go it alone with a reboot, but wanting to do it and then doing it are quite different things. Quite different again is doing it and feeling the support of a community that want to come on the journey with me. Thank you.
I want to make sure The Kitchen Bookshelf evolves in a way that takes you all with me and gives you want you want from it as a cookbook club. Don’t be shy in sharing with me the direction you’d like to see it take. I won’t be able to take every idea on board! But I do want to know what you want.
I realise this newsletter is long. Almost certainly too long. In part that’s perhaps because it’s the first and there is a lot to say. In part perhaps because it’s the first and I am finding my feet. I feel like there should be a reward for getting to the end (perhaps there is….) Anyway, these will - surely - get snappier.
Right, that’s it. Preamble done. Read on to find out what’s been happening on The Kitchen Bookshelf and what is coming up.
Angela x
THIS MONTH’S COOKBOOK CLUB PICK
As the month goes along I’m really looking forward to finding out what you are all making of - and making from - this month’s book: Greekish by Georgina Hayden:
COOKBOOK EVENTS
We have two events planned (so far…) for the cookbook club this month:
COOKBOOK REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
I’d just like to draw your attention to two areas of The Kitchen Bookshelf that I haven’t really told you much about yet:
The Kitchen Bookshelf Reviews (for paid subscribers only)
Fairly obviously, these are my reviews of some new and old(er) cookbooks. Just my opinions - and I’ll look forward to yours. Up there already are Mother Tongue - Flavours of a Second Generation by Gurdeep Loyal and Five Quarters - Recipes and Notes from a Kitchen in Rome by Rachel Roddy
The Kitchen Bookshelf Recommends
A rolling list of new releases to look forward to over the next few months, and a few oldies too.
SEASONING - HOW TO COOK AND CELEBRATE THE SEASONS
It is coming up to just 2 months since my third cookbook, Seasoning, was published and it is still such a thrill to have out there this book which I love and am so proud of.
It continues to get some lovely press attention: This week featuring in the new edition of delicious magazine with a beautiful double page spread of my recipe for Gooseberry and Toasted Coconut Pavlova; and I’m the guest on the latest episode of Good Food podcast with Mallika Basu, where my love of Hula Hoops with a dirty martini seems to have caused some befuddlement….
Lots of book events coming up and I will keep the tour dates page updated. But next is:
CHATTING ON THE KITCHEN BOOKSHELF
At the beginning of the week we launched the chat space here on The Kitchen Bookshelf. Things got started with discussion about what cookbooks have newly landed onto your kitchen bookshelves; and then attention turned to Thursday’s Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards (which I was one of the judges for) and musings about how influenced (or not) we as cookbook lovers and consumers are by awards season.
KITCHEN BOOKSHELF ODDS & ENDS
Odd scraps of news etc that don’t really fit elsewhere
I’d like to find as many former members as possible of the old Borough Market Cookbook Club so that they can get the chance to join this reboot. If you know anyone who used to be a member of that, please do send me their way or send them mine. And a reminder that all former members of the Borough Market Cookbook Club can take up for free being a paid subscriber here for 3 months.
One of the happiest (other) strings to my bow is being co-director of the British Library’s Food Season of events, discussions and tastings. This year’s season kicks off on May 9th (next week!) and we have a fab line-up planned through until June 3rd. Info here
It ends (finally)
You made it to the end! Or perhaps you didn’t and you cheated and scrolled. I don’t really mind either way. What matters is that you are here. And it turns out there is a reward….
Because I am (possibly over) excited at having launched The Kitchen Bookshelf with you all, I am offering to give away two free signed copies of my new book Seasoning - How To Cook and Celebrate the Seasons.
One copy to the first paid subscriber who messages me here to say they’d love a copy:
One copy to the first free subscriber who messages me here to say they are going to upgrade (and then actually does it)
I will take care of posting out to any UK address, with the inscription of your choosing.
Right, that really is it. More (but also hopefully less, if you know what I mean) next week.
Wishing you all a merry weekend when it comes - I am off to Andalusia (lucky, lucky me) where I fully expect to be totally inspired by all the fabulous food.
Angela x
I love hula hoops too!! Going to listen to the podcast immediately :) (and martinis, too!) xx