The New English Table: Over 200 Recipes That Will Not Cost the Earth

Henrietta Green of FoodLoversBritain.com

The title of Rose Prince’s latest book The New English Table suggests that she has moved on from her previous book, The New English Kitchen. It also raises the question wherein lies the difference, particularly as I’m not sure who can tell where the kitchen ends and the table begins. After all, don’t most of us eat in the kitchen nowadays? Rose’s fans – and she has a growing following – are probably happy enough to hear from her whatever she has to write... If Kitchen is about, and this is taken direct from the cover, “changing the way you shop, cook and eat”, Table makes the more modest claim of “over 200 recipes that will not cost the earth.” Table is divided up by ingredients …..eggs…..ox tongue……peas …..and so on: some familiar, others outré. Each follows a simple enough formula with an introduction, various recipes including leftovers and a section on buying (with, believe it or not, no mention of FoodLoversBritain.com as a useful tool for sourcing. Competitors’ websites yes; us- no. But let’s rise above that). The recipes – cheap or otherwise (and there are quite a lot of the latter) – are infinitely appealing and, in most cases, eminently cook-able. Think Water Pudding, Ham & Peas dressed with Mayonnaise and Capers or Eggs in Tarragon Jelly and you’ll get a sense of what’s on offer. Considered and carefully chosen, there’s an interesting balance of British and Abroad. In other words Rose knows her roots and although is happy to travel, never strays too far.