Toast is Nigel Slater's truly extraordinary story of a childhood remembered through food. In each chapter, as he takes readers on a tour of the contents of his family's pantry-rice pudding, tinned ham, cream soda, mince pies, lemon drops, bourbon biscuits-we are transported....
His mother was a chops-and-peas sort of cook, exasperated by the highs and lows of a temperamental stove, a finicky little son, and the asthma that was to prove fatal. His father was a honey-and-crumpets man with an unpredictable temper. When Nigel's widowed father takes on a housekeeper with social aspirations and a talent in the kitchen, the following years become a heartbreaking cooking contest for his father's affections. But as he slowly loses the battle, Nigel finds a new outlet for his culinary talents, and we witness the birth of what was to become a lifelong passion for food. Nigel's likes and dislikes, aversions and sweet-toothed weaknesses, form a fascinating backdrop to this exceptionally moving memoir of childhood, adolescence, and sexual awakening.
A bestseller (more than 300,000 copies sold) and award-winner in the UK, Toast is sure to delight both foodies and memoir readers on this side of the pond-especially those who made such enormous successes of Ruth Reichl's Tender at the Bone and Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential.
Praise for Nigel Slater's Toast:
"His writing could not be more palate-cleansing. his acidic riffs put you in mind of Nick Hornby, Martin Amis and Philip Larkin all at the same time."
-The New York Times
"Many scenes are hilarious and the language is so evocative that it will stimulate your own fond remembrance of meals past."
-People
"At its sweet heart, Toast is a stirring tale of a troubled childhood, strung together by memorable meals both appetizing and revolting."
--Entertainment Weekly
"Using prosaic touchstones like milk skin, tinned fruit, and bad apple crumble, Slater recounts his harsh coming-of-age in [...] unsauced sentences. Toast will leave you with a newfound belief that chef Jamie Oliver, who has proclaimed Slater a genius, has good taste in more than just arugula."
--Elle
"Nigel is a genius."
-Jamie Oliver, author of Jamie's Kitchen, The Naked Chef, and Happy Days with the Naked Chef
Industry Reviews
"His writing could not be more palate-cleansing... his acidic riffs put you in mind of Nick Hornby, Martin Amis and Philip Larkin all at the same time." -The New York Times "Many scenes are hilarious and the language is so evocative that it will stimulate your own fond remembrance of meals past." -People "At its sweet heart, *Toast is a stirring tale of a troubled childhood, strung together by memorable meals both appetizing and revolting." --Entertainment Weekly "Using prosaic touchstones like milk skin, tinned fruit, and bad apple crumble, Slater recounts his harsh coming-of-age in [...] unsauced sentences. *Toast will leave you with a newfound belief that chef Jamie Oliver, who has proclaimed Slater a genius, has good taste in more than just arugula." --Elle "Nigel is a genius." -Jamie Oliver, author of Jamie's Kitchen, The Naked Chef, and Happy Days with the Naked Chef
