Chef, food writer and fermentation expert
After leaving a career in newspaper journalism I did my chef’s training at Leiths. It was a tough year but a wonderful experience. This book was our bible and I still cook from it all the time even if I don’t need to actually open it very often: the quantities and methods for my most-used dishes are internalised.
Food and drink writer and TV presenter
Another excellent standby book, for those moment when you need to make hollandaise or bisque. It's not the most beautiful book I own by a long stretch, but it's one of the most useful.