Celebrated restaurateur and food writer, Mark Hix, has toured the country with leading photographer Jason Lowe to re-discover forgotten, traditional dishes and start putting British regional food back on the map. Each chapter celebrates and examines a particular region, introducing the reader to its landscape and indigenous products, and includes fascinating information and anecdotes about the traditions behind some of the country's most beloved meals. Find out why the Cornish Pasty was Britain's first convenience food, why the Welsh were eating seaweed long before sushi became fashionable, and how Lancashire came to be the birthplace of all manner of confectionery including treacle toffee. With over 100 recipes, the book provides a rich treasury of regional dishes, some totally true to tradition, others cleverly and sympathetically adapted to make them simpler and more suited to today. Thus Bubble and Squeak, Kedgeree and Roast Lamb sit perfectly alongside the more fantastically named London Particular, Liverpool Lobscouse, and Dublin Coddle. Throughout the book there are also features on the best artisan food producers throughout the country who are working to re-kindle all that's best in British food, from celebrated local cheese and ham producers whose produce rival the very best from France and Italy, to farmers who are working to revive rare breeds and forgotten varieties of fruit and vegetables.

Author Biography

For the past 17 years, Mark Hix was the Chef Director of Caprice Holdings Limited, overseeing Le Caprice, The Ivy and J. Sheekey, three of London's most fashionable restaurants. He is now working independently and has recently opened two new restaurants, Hix Oyster and Chophouse in London's Smithfield market and Hix Oyster and Fish House in Lyme Regis. He is also a celebrated food writer and has received several awards for his regular features in The Independent on Saturday Magazine. Mark has written seven cookbooks, the latest being British Regional Food, which received a Guild of Food writers award in 2007 and Andre Simon Book Award - Special Commendation. He is winner of Great British Menu (2007).