Eating for England: The Delights and Eccentricities of the British at Table by Nigel Slater

 

Nigel Slater's other book, TOAST, is one of my all-time favorite food-related memoirs, so when EATING FOR ENGLAND went on sale, I rushed to buy it. This is honestly one of the coziest books I've ever written and it gives off the same witty, wholesome, swathed-in-a-blanket-with-a-mug-of-hot-tea vibes as Great British Baking Show. The way Slater describes food is transcendent. I could sit and listen to this man talk about chocolate boxes and brown sauce for hours.

EATING FOR ENGLAND is an analysis of England's changing national palate. In this collection of essays, he discusses everything from the introduction of international foods (such as sushi), to things like Branston pickle and the Jammie Dodger, to the various stereotypes of wannabe chefs he encounters at the shops, to glowing praise of harvest festivals and local farmers' markets.

I would only recommend this book to people who are really passionate about food and cooking. For me, it was especially nostalgic because I lived in the UK for a short while, and seeing him talk about some of the things I used to eat there but can't get in the U.S. filled me with such longing. I think if you enjoy food authors such as Anthony Bourdain, you will love Slater. I love that he appreciates both the bougie and the commonplace with equal passion. It takes talent to convey the senses in writing the way he does.

3.5 to 4 out of 5 stars