The Kitchen Magpie

A feast of hundreds of food facts, mouth-watering myths and culinary curiosities to satisfy all appetites.Join award-winning writer James Steen for a feast of food and drink facts and culinary curiosities.Delving into forgotten corners of gastronomic history, Steen reveals what Parmesan has to do with broken bones and why John Wayne kept a cow in a hotel. Laying bare the secrets of the kitchen, he concocts the ultimate hangover cure and explains how to cook perfect rib of beef with the oven off.With much-loved cooks including Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood sharing passion and know-how, this mouth-watering miscellany will sate the appetite of every kitchen dweller, from the masterful expert to the earnest apprentice.Featuring exclusive recipes from top chefs such as Marcus Wareing and Mary Berry, and contributions from Raymond Blanc, Marco Pierre-White, and chef-to-the-stars Kai Chase, this beautifully presented miscellany blends the history of cookery through the ages with expert tips and astonishing facts.James Steen is a journalist and ghostwriter, having collaborated with great chefs such as Marco Pierre White (The Devil in the Kitchen), Raymond Blanc (A Taste of My Life), and Keith Floyd (Stirred But Not Shaken).