Stephanie Jackson

Publisher

https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk

Stephanie's recommendations

Polpo

Russell Norman

The kind of food I love to eat, from one of my favourite ever restaurants (and most admired restaurateurs), in a stunning and much-mimicked physical package. The book I most wish I'd published myself.

How To Eat: The Pleasures and Principles of Good Food

Nigella Lawson

Constantly referenced, beautifully written and worth it for the Spaghetti Carbonara recipe alone (and thank you, Nigella, for reminding me to re-read Nora Ephron). My copy is splattered and stained.

The Silver Palate Cookbook

Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins

One of the first cookbooks I bought for myself, this was my kitchen bible in the 80s and 90s. Still fond.

An Omelette and a Glass of Wine

Elizabeth David

This was the first cookbook that I read like a novel, and it taught me that the narrative is just as important as the recipe.

The Kitchen Diaries

Nigel Slater

A tribute to the joys of seasonal eating, and a masterclass in how to put a meal together.

Cooking in Ten Minutes

Édouard de Pomiane

Contains the most delightfully written recipe of all time: "Fry some chipolata sausages. Serve them very hot on a dish and on a second dish a dozen oysters. Alternate the sensations. Burn your mouth with a crackling sausage. Sooth your burns with a cool oyster. Continue until all the sausages and oysters have disappeared. White wine, of course." I treasure my first edition.

Home Cooking

Laurie Colwin

A wonderful read, with recipes – including the best fried chicken method I've ever come across (and when you only dare indulge in fried chicken once a year, this matters).

Jerusalem

Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi

My favourite of all of Yotam's books, for putting gorgeous food into its cultural context. And as a book geek, I love the package.

Fäviken

Magnus Nilsson

An extraordinary insight into how one of the world's most innovative chefs approaches food and cooking. It's one of those rare books that will change the way you think about eating.

The Joy of Cooking

Irma Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker

THE classic American cookbook – from which millions (including me) learned to cook.