The Five Little Pigs Cookbook Club
We’re thrilled to be working with Helen and the fab team from Wallingford Bookshop on our new Cookbook Club. This is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time, and we’re looking forward to our next meeting on 3rd February.
The premise of the Club is a simple one. We, as like-minded souls, come together on the first Tuesday of the month to enjoy a meal cooked from some of our favourite cookbooks, discuss recipes, ideas and themes and have a glass (or two) of something fitting. Tickets are limited and invite only and details of the next meeting are below:
April 7th - Five Quarters by Rachel Roddy
Three courses & coffee
£36
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
“One of the best things about Italian cuisine (which, by now, you might suspect is my favourite) is that it’s so fiercely regional, I can easily justify multiple book club suppers in its honour.
Rachel Roddy is one of the warmest, most relatably human of food writers, and her little Roman kitchen is a reflection of that- the meals are unfussy, and proudly regional, but relaxed enough for the domestic cook to feel unjudged, and unintimidated. The book brings to life everything I know and love about Rome, its quirks, customs, and food rituals, and it’s one I’m really looking forward to sharing with you.”
March 3rd - Cooking by Jeremy Lee
Three courses & coffee
£36
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
“I’ve always consciously shone a light on cookbooks written by restaurant chefs of stellar reputation- not just skill, but character. And in both, Jeremy Lee is held in the highest regard. Reputed to be ‘the most likeable man in hospitality,’ his book ‘Cooking’ was always destined to find its way to our cookbook club.
His approach to food is honest, domestic, frill-free and joyful. ‘Cooking’ is superbly readable, and equally beautiful. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.”
February 3rd - Dinner by Meera Sodha
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“New year, and for cookbook club, new territory… as for the February dinner, I’m chosing a new (ish) book I’ve sought out especially- Meera Sodha’s ‘Dinner.
I’ve followed Meera’s recipes in the Guardian for many, many years- her relaxed approach to Indian-inspired vegetarian cooking has always been a joy to read and cook from. And whilst you might not catch me doing Veganuary any time soon, the beginning of the year always has me looking a little more closely at my meat consumption. And so, I’m really looking forward seeing you all to talk about it, and hopefully hear about your own experiences with the book.”
December 2nd - Mamushka by Olia Hercules
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“There’s a running theme in the cookbooks that make it into my favourites, and it’s that they all put food that is ultimately domestic, and familiar, at the fore. There might be some added frills or flourishes along the way, but ultimately it’s the practical cooking of the home that most appeals to me- and that’s true of homes the world over.
I fell head over heels in love with Ukrainian food and culture when I visited 18 years ago, and that love affair has only grown stronger. It goes without saying that a lot has happened since then, and to put it lightly my experience of cooking and learning the ways of the Ukrainian kitchen has only improved (with a lot of hands on help from my phenomenal horde of Ukrainian chefs, occasionally sharing their secrets with me). Olia Hercules’ Mamushka is the embodiment of everything I love most about this food, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
November 4th - A Cook’s Book by Nigel Slater
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“A cook who writes.
No one quite writes like Nigel Slater, and curling up with any of his ~26 books is like sinking into a warm bath. He understands the restorative nature of both food and cooking in a way that really resonates, and this particular book is the most perfect collection of food stories, recipes, and little vignettes from his kitchen. I’m looking forward to this one.”
October 7th - Polpo by Russell Norman
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“A recurring theme in the cookery books that I'm most fond of is their ability to transport me somewhere else- and few do it quite like Polpo.
I'm often asked my favourite cuisine to cook (and eat), and I don't skip a beat before answering: Italian. Their approach to simple, seasonal eating where the main ingredient is passion (because I've never met an Italian that cooks half-heartedly) is everything I care about, and the fierce traditions of regional cooking mean that it's a country that offers so much variety. Russell Norman- a man who was an absolute giant in hospitality- understood exactly what it is that defines Venetian cuisine, and indeed their own hospitality. It's a tougher nut to crack than any other Italian city I've been to- tourists are ripe for the picking, and it's fair to say that most restaurant experiences to be had around the grand canal are far from authentic. But the pages of this book (and their invaluable recommendations) cut right through to the heart of the Venetian kitchen.”.
September 2nd - The Flavour Thesaurus - Niki Segnit
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“An absolute rabbit-hole of a book, if ever there was one. Nikki Segnit’s Flavour Thesaurus is less of a cookbook, more of a crutch for those moments of uncertainty in the kitchen, or times when you’re lacking a little inspiration. It’s a matrix that will help you unlock the contents of your fridge (and your brain).
It’s been a faithful companion to my menu writing for the fifteen years since its release, and it’ll still be by my side in another thirty.”
August 5th - Eating for Pleasure, People and Planet - Tom Hunt
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“Eat for pleasure
Eat whole foods
Eat the best food you can
If I were to embody my approach to food in three sentences, this wouldn’t be far off- and Tom Hunt’s Eating for Pleasure, People and Planet is the perfect handbook for anyone looking for an approachable guide to eating sustainably without the virtue signalling or preaching that a lot of other writers seem to indulge in. The book is as much a manifesto as it is a recipe book, and a lot of the recipes are more like formulas within which you can endlessly tweak and customise, to help capitalise on what you have in glut (or don’t).
It is inescapably political- not party political as such, more a call to arms- a movement. But it’s written with such heart that none of it weighs heavy. It’s a cookery book that leaves me feeling inspired to do better in my kitchen for our food systems, and our planet.”
July 8th - Jamie’s Great Britain by Jamie Oliver
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“It might not seem like the obvious choice for a professional chef to put forward, but if I’m sharing my journey in the kitchen through the cookbooks that have held my hand, then this is one of the earliest (and most supportive).
“Love him or hate him, Jamie Oliver has built a career on demystifying food, and democratising the process of cooking and eating. His passion for feeding people, for learning more about the different food cultures of the UK, encouraging others into their own kitchens and challenging the politics of the way we and our children feed ourselves is boundless, and this book is a real celebration of that. My battered copy has been with me since its release nearly 15 years ago, and has fed hundreds. I’m excited to share some of my favourites with the club.
“No turkey dinosaurs allowed.”
June 3rd - Jerusalem by Sami Tamimi and Yotam Ottolenghi
12.30pm lunch / 7pm dinner
Two courses & coffee
£32
“We’ve always said that food is the greatest unifier, and as Yotam Ottolenghi has just proclaimed - food should never be a tool in war, it should be a bridge. So join us in celebrating some of my most loved (and cooked) recipes from Jerusalem.
May 6th - Midnight Chicken (& other recipes worth living for) by Ella Risbridger
12.30 pm lunch cookbook club/ 7pm dinner cookbook club
Two courses & coffee
£25
This one has spent as much time on my bedside table as it has in my kitchen- an unflinchingly vulnerable, humorous, comfort read of a cookery book. It's less like reading an instruction manual on how to execute dishes, more like a series of love notes from a close friend (which just happened to have the most perfect recipes in them).
Click below to buy your tickets, and don’t forget to order your copies of the book from Helen and the team - no Amazon purchase here, thank you very much!
April 1st - Mastering The Art of French Cooking: Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle & Simone Beck
12.30 pm lunch cookbook club/ 7pm dinner cookbook club
Two courses & coffee
£25
A larger-than-life, perenially cheerful American (along with Louisette Bertholle & Simone Beck) instructs her readers in the finer points of French cookery. In her characteristically straight-talking approach, she lays bare the secrets of the French chef's Batterie de Cuisine, classic sauces, butchery techniques, and the art of ingredient shopping.
We’re thrilled to be working with Helen and the fab team from Wallingford Bookshop on our new Cookbook Club. This is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time, and we’re looking forward to our next meeting on 3rd February.
The premise of the Club is a simple one. We, as like-minded souls, come together on the first Tuesday of the month to enjoy a meal cooked from some of our favourite cookbooks, discuss recipes, ideas and themes and have a glass (or two) of something fitting. Tickets are limited and invite only and details of the next meeting are below:
April 7th - Five Quarters by Rachel Roddy
Three courses & coffee
£36
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
“One of the best things about Italian cuisine (which, by now, you might suspect is my favourite) is that it’s so fiercely regional, I can easily justify multiple book club suppers in its honour.
Rachel Roddy is one of the warmest, most relatably human of food writers, and her little Roman kitchen is a reflection of that- the meals are unfussy, and proudly regional, but relaxed enough for the domestic cook to feel unjudged, and unintimidated. The book brings to life everything I know and love about Rome, its quirks, customs, and food rituals, and it’s one I’m really looking forward to sharing with you.”
March 3rd - Cooking by Jeremy Lee
Three courses & coffee
£36
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
“I’ve always consciously shone a light on cookbooks written by restaurant chefs of stellar reputation- not just skill, but character. And in both, Jeremy Lee is held in the highest regard. Reputed to be ‘the most likeable man in hospitality,’ his book ‘Cooking’ was always destined to find its way to our cookbook club.
His approach to food is honest, domestic, frill-free and joyful. ‘Cooking’ is superbly readable, and equally beautiful. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.”
February 3rd - Dinner by Meera Sodha
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“New year, and for cookbook club, new territory… as for the February dinner, I’m chosing a new (ish) book I’ve sought out especially- Meera Sodha’s ‘Dinner.
I’ve followed Meera’s recipes in the Guardian for many, many years- her relaxed approach to Indian-inspired vegetarian cooking has always been a joy to read and cook from. And whilst you might not catch me doing Veganuary any time soon, the beginning of the year always has me looking a little more closely at my meat consumption. And so, I’m really looking forward seeing you all to talk about it, and hopefully hear about your own experiences with the book.”
December 2nd - Mamushka by Olia Hercules
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“There’s a running theme in the cookbooks that make it into my favourites, and it’s that they all put food that is ultimately domestic, and familiar, at the fore. There might be some added frills or flourishes along the way, but ultimately it’s the practical cooking of the home that most appeals to me- and that’s true of homes the world over.
I fell head over heels in love with Ukrainian food and culture when I visited 18 years ago, and that love affair has only grown stronger. It goes without saying that a lot has happened since then, and to put it lightly my experience of cooking and learning the ways of the Ukrainian kitchen has only improved (with a lot of hands on help from my phenomenal horde of Ukrainian chefs, occasionally sharing their secrets with me). Olia Hercules’ Mamushka is the embodiment of everything I love most about this food, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
November 4th - A Cook’s Book by Nigel Slater
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“A cook who writes.
No one quite writes like Nigel Slater, and curling up with any of his ~26 books is like sinking into a warm bath. He understands the restorative nature of both food and cooking in a way that really resonates, and this particular book is the most perfect collection of food stories, recipes, and little vignettes from his kitchen. I’m looking forward to this one.”
October 7th - Polpo by Russell Norman
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“A recurring theme in the cookery books that I'm most fond of is their ability to transport me somewhere else- and few do it quite like Polpo.
I'm often asked my favourite cuisine to cook (and eat), and I don't skip a beat before answering: Italian. Their approach to simple, seasonal eating where the main ingredient is passion (because I've never met an Italian that cooks half-heartedly) is everything I care about, and the fierce traditions of regional cooking mean that it's a country that offers so much variety. Russell Norman- a man who was an absolute giant in hospitality- understood exactly what it is that defines Venetian cuisine, and indeed their own hospitality. It's a tougher nut to crack than any other Italian city I've been to- tourists are ripe for the picking, and it's fair to say that most restaurant experiences to be had around the grand canal are far from authentic. But the pages of this book (and their invaluable recommendations) cut right through to the heart of the Venetian kitchen.”.
September 2nd - The Flavour Thesaurus - Niki Segnit
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“An absolute rabbit-hole of a book, if ever there was one. Nikki Segnit’s Flavour Thesaurus is less of a cookbook, more of a crutch for those moments of uncertainty in the kitchen, or times when you’re lacking a little inspiration. It’s a matrix that will help you unlock the contents of your fridge (and your brain).
It’s been a faithful companion to my menu writing for the fifteen years since its release, and it’ll still be by my side in another thirty.”
August 5th - Eating for Pleasure, People and Planet - Tom Hunt
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“Eat for pleasure
Eat whole foods
Eat the best food you can
If I were to embody my approach to food in three sentences, this wouldn’t be far off- and Tom Hunt’s Eating for Pleasure, People and Planet is the perfect handbook for anyone looking for an approachable guide to eating sustainably without the virtue signalling or preaching that a lot of other writers seem to indulge in. The book is as much a manifesto as it is a recipe book, and a lot of the recipes are more like formulas within which you can endlessly tweak and customise, to help capitalise on what you have in glut (or don’t).
It is inescapably political- not party political as such, more a call to arms- a movement. But it’s written with such heart that none of it weighs heavy. It’s a cookery book that leaves me feeling inspired to do better in my kitchen for our food systems, and our planet.”
July 8th - Jamie’s Great Britain by Jamie Oliver
6.30pm meet at Wallingford Bookshop, for a 7pm start at Pigs
Two courses & coffee
£32
“It might not seem like the obvious choice for a professional chef to put forward, but if I’m sharing my journey in the kitchen through the cookbooks that have held my hand, then this is one of the earliest (and most supportive).
“Love him or hate him, Jamie Oliver has built a career on demystifying food, and democratising the process of cooking and eating. His passion for feeding people, for learning more about the different food cultures of the UK, encouraging others into their own kitchens and challenging the politics of the way we and our children feed ourselves is boundless, and this book is a real celebration of that. My battered copy has been with me since its release nearly 15 years ago, and has fed hundreds. I’m excited to share some of my favourites with the club.
“No turkey dinosaurs allowed.”
June 3rd - Jerusalem by Sami Tamimi and Yotam Ottolenghi
12.30pm lunch / 7pm dinner
Two courses & coffee
£32
“We’ve always said that food is the greatest unifier, and as Yotam Ottolenghi has just proclaimed - food should never be a tool in war, it should be a bridge. So join us in celebrating some of my most loved (and cooked) recipes from Jerusalem.
May 6th - Midnight Chicken (& other recipes worth living for) by Ella Risbridger
12.30 pm lunch cookbook club/ 7pm dinner cookbook club
Two courses & coffee
£25
This one has spent as much time on my bedside table as it has in my kitchen- an unflinchingly vulnerable, humorous, comfort read of a cookery book. It's less like reading an instruction manual on how to execute dishes, more like a series of love notes from a close friend (which just happened to have the most perfect recipes in them).
Click below to buy your tickets, and don’t forget to order your copies of the book from Helen and the team - no Amazon purchase here, thank you very much!
April 1st - Mastering The Art of French Cooking: Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle & Simone Beck
12.30 pm lunch cookbook club/ 7pm dinner cookbook club
Two courses & coffee
£25
A larger-than-life, perenially cheerful American (along with Louisette Bertholle & Simone Beck) instructs her readers in the finer points of French cookery. In her characteristically straight-talking approach, she lays bare the secrets of the French chef's Batterie de Cuisine, classic sauces, butchery techniques, and the art of ingredient shopping.