Canteen Recipe Book
Canteen is a small chain of restaurants in London that was borne out of an idea that British food could be great if good quality, seasonal produce was used. The first restaurant or canteen was opened in Spittalfields Market in east London in 2005 and has since grown to another 4 canteens across the capital. A great emphasis is put on the provenance of the food. Meat is free range from farmers rearing traditional breeds. Fish is delivered fresh every day from south coast day-boats. Fruit and vegetables are seasonal – no Peruvian asparagus in October here. Everything from the jams, biscuits and chutneys, is made from scratch in the kitchens.
The Canteens have proved so popular that the team has distilled their ideas and recipes into a cookbook.
The book has been printed in a retro style which befits the classic British recipes that are included in the book. I loved the brown paper cover and quirky photographs. The book reminded me very much of a cookbook my mum used to have from the 1950s.
The book celebrates British classics such as stews, pies and roasts and includes sections on fish, puddings and soups. It isn’t just about meat though, with recipes for Glamorgan sausages and squash, chard and sage pie, amongst others. I’m particularly looking forward to trying the fennel, tomato and basil pie, the spicy mutton pie and the blackcurrant jellies.
I have quite a lot recipe books but very few of them include classic dishes. I was a child of the seventies and eighties, the decades that gave us squirty cream, processed cheese and angel delight . . . yuk!!! I think this might be why I like the book so much, it shows British food can compete with other cuisines, that we do have food to be proud of.
The recipes use simple ingredients and are not complicated to make. For that reason I think this book would make a good present for children leaving home and any reluctant cooks out there. There really is no excuse for not being able to cook a good hearty stew or soup if you own this book.
If you happen to be in London and want some tasty and reasonably priced food I can definitely recommend Canteen. They do special ‘2 courses for £10’ deals which are excellent value.
For more information about Canteen go to http://www.canteen.co.uk/#.
The book Canteen, Great British Food is available from Amazon.
Thanks to Charlotte from Ebury Press.
wellywoman 
If we would be in London, on holiday, would Canteen offer us something interesting for vegetarians?
Elephant’ Eye,
Yes they have a selection of vegetarian dishes. Not sure whether you eat fish because they have several fish dishes but if not they always have a vegetarian pie on the menu. If you have a look at their website they should have a menu on there for you to take a look at. My husband had a squash and paprika pie when we visited which he was pleased with.
Once we had laver sp?bread in Wales. That was delicious!!
So many cook books. I have a cupboard full of them (I’m seduced by pretty pictures) but I tend to use the same ones again and again, Nigel Slater,Cranks, Delia, Hugh F W and my first ever Margeruite Paton.
Love the header by the way..
This sounds like a really good book, as you say for someone leaving home for the first time, my son could have done with it years ago! He is now a good cook, his new wife taught him, obviously I failed !!
The book cover reminds me of my school exercise books which must say something about my age. Will have to keep an eye open for this tome. Love your new header 🙂
I have just stumbled on your blog while searching for the name of a plant I took an unidentified photograph at the Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk, Virginia (USA). And here I am. I am English but have lived in the States for the last 36 years,originally from Devon (Torbay area) though I grew up in Staffordshire until the age of 15. I look forward to coming back, thank you for such an enjoyable visit. I do love your blog.
It sounds great, I’ll keep an eye out for it.