Book Review - Quest for Taste - Terry Laybourne

Terry Laybourne's Quest For Taste (Quest for Taste Publishing, £25 hardback)

Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Terence Laybourne pays homage to Northumberland's artisan food producers in this engrossing eulogy.

Determined to avoid penning a "selfconscious, chefy recipe book", Laybourne opts instead to celebrate the farmers, millers, fisherman and beekeepers behind some of the northeast's rich regional fare.

"Ninety per cent of good cooking is good shopping," says the Northumberland-based chef, who runs several eateries including Café 21 in Newcastle and whose cooking skills have earned accolades that include an MBE.

Taking the reader on an intimate tour of Northumberland from potato farmers in the Scottish borders to oyster farmers in Lindisfarne on Holy Island, Quest for Taste successfully conveys the dedication, care and passion that drive these producers. The book is an uplifting read but what really sets it apart is the jaw-dropping photography.

Vivid imagery of farmers and fishermen going about their daily routine lets you fully appreciate the region's breathtaking natural beauty.

Laybourne explains how Northumberland's meats, flours and cheeses can add inspiration to your kitchen, with recipes using the producers' fare at the end of every chapter. All emphasise the importance of regionality and simplicity as Laybourne urges cooks to follow the adage that "what grows together, goes together".

Quest for Taste is an informative and heart-warming dedication to Northumberland's specialist food producers. It's filled with first-class recipe ideas and stunning photography, which should make it a fixture on the coffee tables of chefs who are serious about local sourcing.

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