They Draw and Cook: 107 Recipes Illustrated by Artists from Around the World

Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell

An anthology of graphic recipes assembled by Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell. It is all kinds of ace. AND I BET YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT!!!

Floyd on Fish

Keith Floyd

Keith Floyd rocked as it was he who first showed me that irreverence in the kitchen is cool. I slept with this book by my bed when I worked in a fish restaurant in the 80s.

Just Like Mother Used to Make

Tom Norrington-Davies

Tom is so authoritative that this is my go-to kitchen bible for basics.

A Tale of 12 Kitchens: Family Cooking in Four Countries

Jake Tilson

Conceptual art and food all together in one lovely anecdotal tome.

Kitab Al-o Tabaikh

Al Baghdadi

Specifically Charles Perry's translation thereof - it is a work of genius, and the first ever Middle Eastern cookbook.

Greek Food

Rena Salaman

I travelled to Greece a lot as a child, and my mother was an adventurous cook so we would come back and try to recreate those magical taverna moments with this book by our side.

The Congo Cookbook: African Recipes

Ed Gibbon

I have recently obtained this in print. It is a rare compilation of African recipes, and as I live in Peckham I refer to it constantly.

My Fun-to-Cook Book

Ursula Sedgwick

First published in 1969 by Hamlyn and remains seminal to many baby boomers' first experiences of cooking.

Supper Club: Recipes and Notes from the Underground Restaurant

Kerstin Rodgers

The woman is as mad as I am, and her book is fun.

The Legendary Cuisine of Persia

Margaret Shaida