Happy Leons: LEON Happy Salads

When Henry Dimbleby, John Vincent and Allegra McEvedy opened their first restaurant on London's Carnaby Street in July 2004 their aim was to change the face of fast food. Six months after opening, Leon was named the Best New Restaurant in Great Britain at the Observer Food Monthly Awards (by a judging panel that included Rick Stein, Nigel Slater, Heston Blumenthal, Ruth Rogers and Jay Rayner). There are now 46 Leon restaurants. John Vincent co-founded Leon in 2004, before going on to write the bestselling Leon Naturally Fast Food with Henry. John's interest in nutrition has been crucial in determining the Leon ethos, particularly the importance of the glycemic index, the damaging effects of too much sugar and the difference between good and bad fats. Jane Baxter is co-author of The Riverford Farm Cook Book, which won Best First Book and Work on British Food at the Guild of Food Writers' awards. Jane worked at the Carved Angel in Dartmouth and the River Café before becoming the Head Chef at the Field Kitchen, the restaurant for Riverford Organic Vegetables. She now spends her time catering, consulting on local food matters in Devon and hosting food events in unusual locations. She is the co-author of Leon Fast Vegetarian with Henry Dimbleby and has a weekly column in the Guardian's Cook supplement.