Frances Bissell

Food writer

A present from my parents, this is the most tattered book on my shelves. A fine combination of recipes, techniques and seasonality, it is also a who’s who of the great food and cookery writers of the day, including Derek Cooper, Margaret Costa, Jane Grigson, Marika Hanbury-Tenison, Kenneth Lo, Katie Stewart and Harold Wilshaw. I began keeping my kitchen diaries the following year.

Sophie Tyrrell

Head chef, 69 Highbury Hill

Seasonal British and international classic recipes followed by excellent technical skills section with drawings and diagrams. Covers absolutely everything from soufflés to kitchen equipment. Considering how long ago it first appeared (1973) it's not so dated. If you need to know what goes into salade Nicoise or Goulash, it's all there.

Alistair Cameron

Coordinator for England of the Slow Food Chef Alliance and Ark of Taste

I've used it for about 40 years, to the extent that it's the Readers Digestonly cookbook I own that the covers fell off.

Fran Warde

Author

I do believe that this was one of the first seasonal cookery books that I came across.

Gill Meller

Chef

Pure class, my mum gave me her copy which fell apart so I bought another.

Isabel Aspillera

Founder, Travel & Tapas

Vanessa Kimbell

Sourdough baker, writer & food activist

Richard Bertinet

Baker & Chef

Willie Lebus

Director Bibendum Wine

Sue Carter

Oenophile and Home Cook

Steven Lamb

Teacher and writer

Naomi Knill

Food writer