The River Cottage crew hit all the right notes in their descriptions, whether they're singing the praises of pork and spinach or explaining the various applications of salt . . . a fascinating and impressively produced work.

Publishers Weekly

While these essays on individual ingredients offer comprehensive data on the origins, propagation, and culinary uses of vegetables, herbs, seafood, and meats, they are written with such enthusiasm and good humor that even nonfoodies may find themselves both intrigued and even laughingout loud. Written with a decidedly British voice, the book pours out a torrent of well-organized andvaluable reference material.

Booklist

[A] delightful, veddy British doorstop of a book . . . the essays on ingredients are oftentimes as beautiful and evocative as they are smart and practical.

Atlanta Journal Constitution