Kay Plunkett Hogge – författare

Meet the chilli. It''s a fiery little fruit. From humble origins in a tucked-away corner of Latin America, it has found its way into the food of more than half the world. Intrepid food writer Kay Plunkett-Hogge is on its trail, following the chilli from the Americas to Europe, and along the spice routes to the Middle East, India, China and beyond. With more than 120 delicious recipes from around the world, including Thai, Indian and Mexican favourites, plus tantalising desserts with a difference, Kay showcases the chilli''s extraordinary versatility, celebrates its rich and nomadic history, and discovers the secrets of its success.

Tapas and sherry bars are everywhere: Berlin, London, LA, Paris, Munich. Now it''s time to bring the trend home and serve this glorious marriage of flavours to friends. In A Sherry & A Little Plate of Tapas Kay Plunkett-Hogge tells the story of tapas and its beloved companion, sherry, and offers 80 easy-to-cook-at-home recipes. The book begins by exploring the mysteries of sherry, one of the world''s oldest wines, considering the five key types, how they''re made and how they''re served, with tips on the best food and sherry matches and a selection of sherry cocktails. Kay then plunges into the tapas, with chapters on cold tapas - hams and olives and their like - and latillas; montaditos or ''mounted'' tapas; pintxos, or ''things on sticks''; and on cooked tapas, with chapters on vegetables, eggs and dairy, seafood and meat. Kay has even created some delicious sherry-based desserts.

As featured in the Sunday Express and Evening Standard Must Haves''...a heady and enchanting book and a manifesto of our times ...if you''re interested in food, film, fashion or simply fantastic adventures to far-flung places, you''ll want to devour Kay Plunkett-Hogge''s Adventures of a Terribly Greedy Girl''.Metro''This eclectic memoir, with its evocative vignettes of life in some of the world''s mostvibrant cities, is punctuated with mouthwatering recipes - everything from sashimi with Thai salsaverde to the perfect dry martini''.Daily Mail''...a romp through the life of one-time male model-booker Kay Plunkett-Hogge. There are recipes and checklists peppered among the riotous stories. Dip in and out or read on the train to brighten your commute - it''s better than a Berocca fix (and far more entertaining''.delicious.magazine''[A] feisty, funny memoir, interspersed with personal recipes. Best enjoyed with a Martini''.Sainsbury''s MagazineWith a dry martini in hand, Kay Plunkett-Hogge looks back at the happy accidents, regrettable errors and unexpected opportunities that led to a career as a food and drink writer, via stints in the worlds of fashion and film. It is a celebration of a tumbling through life, of mistakes, and opportunities laid bare. As you read, Kay shares 25 delicious recipes she discovered along the way, from her grandmother''s apple crumble to sashimi with Thai salsa verde. Chapters include 10 Things I Learnt in New York, The Comfort of a Roast Chicken and What Would Martha Do? Joyful, witty and occasionally indiscreet, Adventures of A Terribly Greedy Girl is about the benefits of letting your curiosity trump your good sense.

Let''s be honest: who doesn''t want to be a little bit Italian? To glide through Rome on a Vespa like Marcello Mastroianni, wearing an impeccable suit? Or sit in St Mark''s Square in Venice at dusk, nibbling cicchetti and sipping an Aperol spritz? This is la dolce vita, and this is aperitivo - Italy''s take on drinks and small snacks.Aperitivo brings together 80 recipes from across Italy, and tells the stories behind the food and the drinks that shape the aperitif hour. The book opens with the aperitivi themselves - Campari and Aperol - as well as recipes for classic Italian cocktails (including the perfect Negroni) and a guide to Italian wine. Kay then introduces simple recipes for Antipasto and Pinzimonio; Tramezzini; Bruschette and Crostini; Seafood; Meat and Fowl; Vegetables, Dairy and Eggs; Bread and Baking; and Dolci. So let''s cinch in our waists, pop on some cat''s eye sunglasses, and make like Sophia Loren. It''s time for Aperitivo.

''Kay can cook - but she can shake a damn fine cocktail too.'' - Heston BlumenthalKay Plunkett-Hogge demonstrates that entertaining need not be stressful with more than 90 deliciously simple recipes for cocktails and finger food that can easily be scaled up and made in advance. Kay draws on her own party-planning experience to help you be the perfect host, with handy tips on everything from guest list to painless clean-up.Features favourite recipes from three of Kay''s previous books, including the award-winning Make Mine A Martini, as well as new creations such as Mini Cornbreads with Bacon, Chilli and Cheese, Smoked Mackerel Paté and Scandinavian Glögg.

''The only challenger to Jamie Oliver''s world domination in the healthy fast-food stakes is the team behind Leon, which has built a mini-empire on the ethos that "food should taste good and do you good"''. - StylistThe first Leon restaurant, in London''s Carnaby Street, opened its doors in 2004 built on the promise of serving good fast food that does you good. Now, 43 restaurants later, Leon serves thousands of devoted fans a week. Leon Family & Friends is their fourth cookbook, created by Leon co-founder John Vincent and cookery writer and broadcaster Kay Plunkett-Hogge.At the heart of happy family life are meals spent together - sharing flavourful, nutritious food around the kitchen table and swapping stories of the day. Many of us feel we don''t have the time to cater for our families in the way that we''d like but Leon Family & Friends shows you how to make the most of the time available to feed your family and celebrates the power of food to bring people together.It''s divided into three sections: Today, including great breakfasts and brunch ideas and post-school teas, Tomorrow, for those occasions where some planning is involved - weekend lunches, birthday parties, Christmas and picnics - and finally; Yesterday, a culinary celebration of family food memories. With more than 200 recipes and ideas, there are dishes to keep everyone happy. Children will love the snacks in Crunch! Squish! Slurp! Their parents will welcome the quick suppers in After Lights Out. While no teenager should fly the nest without 10 Things to Know How to Cook Before You Leave Home. A new Leon cookbook is something to celebrate and Family & Friends is destined to become a much-used classic on the kitchen bookshelf.

''Martini is made with gin. A Vodka Martini is made with vodka. Apple Martinis are an abomination. That is all.'' - Kay Plunkett-HoggeFrom just a few friends for drinks and snacks in the kitchen to a sophisticated soirée for everyone you know, Kay Plunkett-Hogge draws upon her background in the worlds of film and fashion and her youth in Mad Men-era Bangkok to create the ultimate guide to making your evening as easy as ABC. Kay''s approach to throwing a party is to keep it simple (yet stylish), plan ahead and, above all, enjoy it.The 80 cocktail recipes are organised by base spirit, with chapters on Gin, Vodka, Rum etc, and the 40 canapé recipes are grouped into Vegetarian, Fish & Seafood and Meat.As Kay writes in the book''s introduction: ''Just the sound of ice being shaken, preferably to a rhythm all of its own, is enough to bring a smile to anyone''s face. It''s the promise of sweet relief, of good times, good friends and good conversation. Just make mine a Martini.