How I Cook

Skye Gyngell's skill in combining ingredients in a way that heightens their freshness and flavour is second to none. Her cooking at Petersham Nurseries has won many awards and her previous two books have been highly acclaimed. Now, Skye turns her attention to home cooking.

In How I Cook she focuses on the food she cooks for friends and family, with an original collection of over 100 recipes based around meal occasions - breakfast, Sunday lunch, alfresco eating, afternoon tea, simple weekday dinner, late night supper and celebrations - such as Christmas and Easter.

Skye's home cooking is influenced by the seasons but it is also the sense of occasion that inspires her creativity. The layers of flavour that typify Skye's dishes are evident throughout, but recipes are more straightforward and based on ingredients that are easy for the home cook to obtain.

All techniques are carefully explained and illustrated, and Skye reveals the secrets of her success, based on her years of experience in the kitchen. In addition, Skye provides menu suggestions throughout the book to create beautifully balanced meals. The final chapter 'Time to spare' presents a lovely selection of original preserves and other food that can be prepared ahead to enjoy later.

About the Author

Australian by birth, Skye Gyngell worked at a number of Sydney's culinary establishments before moving to Paris to complete her formal training under Anne Willan at La Varenne. After a stint at the Dodin-Bouffant in Paris, Skye moved to London to work at The French House, The Dorchester and The Sugar Club. She then spent a number of years working as a private chef with a rota of high profile clients.

She currently combines her role as food editor of Vogue magazine with being Head Chef at Petersham Nurseries where she is rapidly gaining the restaurant a reputation for superb food. Petersham won the 2005 Time Out award for Best Al Fresco Restaurant and Most Original Restaurant at the 2006 Tatler Restaurant Awards.