This is a celebrity charity cookbook and supports the 2004 earthquake and tsunami victims. It has a whole host of “big names” but perhaps the names that you might not recognise are of the two women who deserve the most thanks and praise.
Barbara Jayson lived for many years in South East Asia and whilst living in Indonesia started a charity called The Foundation for Mother and Child Care. She was awarded an MBE for her work in Indonesia in 2004. Jenny de Montfort was born in Sri Lanka and grew up in Nigeria and Cameroon. Whilst living in Indonesia she and a friend compiled a successful cookbook for charity which inspired this book.
It does your heart good to know that people will devote time to help others when disaster strikes. Nigella Lawson was one of the first to pitch in, but food and wine writers, photographers, PAs and publishers all did their bit to produce a book that the public would really want to buy. This book is the tangible proof of their success.
The list of celebrated chefs, cooks and worthies is long but you’ll see who they all are when you buy the book so I’ll just pick a few recipes that I know my dear reader will enjoy.
Anton Edelmann offers Baked Figs with Goats Cheese and Coriander Salad. This is a real fusion dish and that is the theme for these recipes. It’s the combination of East and West that produces something special.
Bill Granger has donated his scrumptious recipe for Coconut Pancakes with Banana and Passion Fruit Syrup. You know how easy pancakes are but Bill gives these a tropical twist.
Gennaro Contaldo is a chap I know to be generous with his time so it’s no surprise to see him here. His contribution is a tangy Orange and Fennel Salad. Refreshing and light.
I must include Nigella Lawson as she was kind enough to get the ball rolling and she must have many calls on her time. Thai Crumbled Beef in Lettuce Wraps is very Forever Summer… er, the recipe is even if the weather isn’t!
This is a gorgeous fusion cookbook with impressive authors. You’ll buy East Meets West because it’s a great book and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that others will be getting something they need as well.
East Meets West
Authors: Various
Published by: Accent Press
Price: £14.99
ISBN 1-905170-02-5
Cookbook review by Chrissie Walker © 2018
See more books by James Martin here.