Emma Kay

Food writer

Biography

Emma is a post-graduate historian and former senior museum worker. Now, food historian, author and collector of Kitchenalia. She lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and young son. Emma’s articles have appeared in publications including BBC History Magazine, The Daily Express, Daily Mail and Times Literary Supplement. She has contributed historic food research for a number of television production companies and featured several times on Talk Radio Europe. Emma has delivered talks and historic food demonstrations including a recent appearance at Bath Literature Festival. Her first book was Dining with the Georgians, followed by Dining with the Victorians in 2015. (Amberley Publishing) In 2017 Emma’s third book Cooking up History: Chefs of the Past (Prospect Books) was released, shortly before book number four - Vintage Kitchenalia. (Amberley Publishing). Her latest book More than a Sauce: A Culinary History of Worcestershire, is due for publication in March 2018. Emma is a member of the Guild of Food Writers.

The Italian Cookery Course

Katie Caldesi

I love Italian food and this book provides a wonderful journey through Italy, its cooking traditions and authentic recipes. There is simply no other Italian cookery book for me.

Is there a nutmeg in the house

Elizabeth David

I love David’s quirky, intimate style of writing, her wit and intelligence.

Book of Ices

Agnes B. Marshall

Agnes was one of the most prolific culinary genius’ of the nineteenth century – author, inventor, entrepreneur, cookery school owner, domestic agency owner, retailer, International speaker and demonstrator. I continue to have sleepless nights about her lack of legacy in this country! It is my ambition to write a screen play of her amazing life.

Ramsay’s Best Menus

Gordon Ramsay

Some may think this a cliché. However, Mr.Ramsay’s books are frequent reference material for me (I have many). His Best Menus contains a clever little indexing system, where you can mix and match courses. It’s brilliant. I also appeared on television some years ago in one of his shows – Ramsay’s Best Restaurants and met the big fella himself. He’s inspiring.

The Book of Sauces

Charles Herman Senn

This little book published in the 1930s provides an incredible compendium of just about every sauce you can think of and many, many more. Senn is another forgotten culinary hero who co-founded the Universal Cookery and Food Association. He wrote over 30 books and worked collaboratively with Brown and Polson to create a range of sauces.

Modern Cookery for Private Families

Eliza Acton

The marvellous, brilliant and talented cook, Eliza Acton was plagiarised by Beeton and neglected within the annals of culinary history for decades. She combined original cookery writing with specific timings and measurements, long before it was common practice.

The Italian Confectioner

William Jarrin

Jarrin is another largely forgotten hero. I love referring to his wonderful confectionery recipes and ogling at the beautifully drawn tools he used in the nineteenth century.

Ottolenghi: The Cookbook

Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi

In many ways this book changed the way I work with food and provided me with the opportunity to experiment with lots of new flavours.

Post-War Kitchen

Marguerite Patten

Marguerite Patten. You need a strong stomach to recreate many of the dishes in this book, but it provides a wonderful insight into food, kitchens and society of the 1950s from rationing to the end of austerity.

Jane Grigson's Fish Book

Jane Grigson

Simply because it’s fish and Jane Grigson. What’s not to like.

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What's playing in Emma's kitchen?

Mostly Radio 4, otherwise hugely eclectic, including anything from Indie and Grunge 90’s tunes, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, Michael Bublé, INXS, Deep Purple, ELO, Abba, Kate Bush, Pat Benatar, Beethoven, Strauss, Rizzle Kicks and Bruno Mars.