John Tovey

A super little book, evocative of John's heydays at Miller Howe, Windemere, in the 1970s and 80s, i.e. completely over the top, very camp but very good recipes. Learning to do a full English breakfast in the oven (rather than grill or hob) will be a revelation if you have to prepare such for more than one or two people at a time. His lamb, heavily herbed and buttered, and baked in hay is wonderful and has been much repeated but this is one of the earliest references to it I've seen. A must show more do - and very forgiving on timing, for entertaining. show less

A really useful little book which has a short chapter for all mainstream vegetables and some less obvious, e.g. dandelion, okra, horseradish, hopshoots and jerusalem artichoke. When you have veg to prepare just look up some fresh ideas. John Tovey has long since retired but was well known from the 1970s - 1990s as having started the country house hotel Miller Howe in Windermere. He always refused to use the new county name of Cumbria (having been born in Westmorland) and listed his address show more as English Lakes. show less

Written by John Tovey, a lecturer in Woven Textiles at the Regional College of Art, Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdon, presents a clearly written text, together with 225 diagrams and photographs of detailed techniques and a glossary of terms. A good reference book.

Craft Instruction, England