A tip from a friend led us to this fabulous little bookstore in London called Books for Cooks [1]. Located just off the Portobello Market, the store is stocked from floor to ceiling with cookbooks – everything from the known to the unknown. In addition to selling cookbooks, the store has a test kitchen where they try out recipes for select cookbooks. The favorite recipes [2] from the test kitchen are compiled in these volumes. At a dinner inspired by these books on the front lawn of a big-city apartment building, our intimate and cozy gathering of friends finished off every bite of a delicious dinner. Some recipes: Spinach Salad with Mint and Honey Dressing, Pork Fillet with Leek, Prune and Cream Sauce [3], Upside-Down Pear and Ginger Pudding.

Purchase Volumes 1-6 from Our Market [4].