Kitchen Press is a new, independent publisher specialising in food writing. It aims, through lovingly crafted bespoke cookbooks, to connect innovative chefs, expert food writers and independent restauranteurs with customers and others around the world who love food.
We believe that the whole experience of reading about food and cooking should be as pleasurable and inspiring as eating it, and we want to help promote the people and places doing that best.
Our News
Kitchen Quiz Episode 2
Kitchen Quiz Episode 2: Kirsten Gilmour (The Mountain Cafe/KJ’s Bothy Bakery)
For the second in our Kitchen Quiz series of short interviews with our amazing authors, we zip up to our favourite Kiwi in the Cairngorms Kirsten Gilmour, or KJ as she is known to many.
KJ was the lady behind the fabulously successful The Mountain Cafe Cookbook. A real cooking bible of tasty soups, exhilarating salads, hearty mains and delightful baking, this is a cookbook that every kitchen shelf simply needs to have.
Kirsten is now focused on her latest project, KJ’s Bothy Bakery knocking out demon breads, scones, buns, meringues, muffins and swirls to those lucky enough to live nearby her in the Highlands.
We caught up with KJ to ask her a few quick questions while she stopped briefly for air….
Sit back and relax. It’s time for KITCHEN QUIZ!!!
Q: Hey KJ, hope you are doing good! So was there a cookbook that really inspired you?
A: So many cookbooks inspire me, but I love The Edmonds cookbook from NZ. It’s a classic that all parents give their kids when they are leaving home. It is just packed full of good simple recipes that work. It’s pretty dated in some ways now, but it remains close to my heart and the baking recipes always work!
Q: What is your favourite item in your kitchen that you simply couldn’t do without?
A: My magic scraper! It’s a dough scraper I use for cleaning dough, scone mix & cookie dough off my benches. I also use it for portioning my bread, cutting pastry & it’s just the business.
Q: Do you have a favourite song, type of music or podcast you like to cook to?
A: NZ music mostly like Fat Freddy’s drop and The Black seeds. They are great for a boogie while cooking.
Q: If you could cook anywhere in the world in any location then where would you choose?
A: Tuscany. I would love to learn more on Italian food culture & skills
Q: If you had to give one single piece of advice about cooking to someone then what would that be?
A: Relax! Don’t take yourself too seriously. Have fun and don’t be hard on yourself if something goes wrong.
Thank you so much Kirsten. You are always a total champ and a star. We can’t wait to try your baking delights from your bothy bakery as soon as we can get up there!
Buy The Mountain Cafe Cookbook here
And don’t forget you can get 15% off all KP titles for the whole month of February 2021 using the code ‘FEB15’ at checkout on our website plus postage is also free!
Special Lockdown Offer: 15% Off Everything!
We have a special lockdown offer for you this February! Cooking with family and housemates has been so vital to so many of us over the last year.
Sourcing interesting ingredients locally and preparing new, exciting dishes at home is as close to ‘being out’ or ‘taking a journey’ as many of us can get during the current restrictions.
So to help out we thought we would offer a 15% discount on any cook books purchased direct from our web shop for the whole month of February. Postage is also free.
We hope this helps keep your menu interesting, your mind inspired and your body healthy. You can choose from the baking treats of The Mountain Cafe Cookbook, the Cajun Gumbo of The Savoy Kitchen, the salads and mezze of The Parlour Cafe, the bush porridge with whisky of Spirit & Spice, the fishy delights of The Seafood Shack, or the delicious goat curry of Recipes From Brixton Village. Whatever your culinary fancy is…don’t worry because we got you!
Just use the code FEB15 to apply your 15% off at checkout in the shop. Enjoy your cooking!
Kitchen Quiz Episode 1
Welcome to Kitchen Quiz our new series of short interviews focussing on the wonderful people who write our cookbooks for us!
Episode 1: Gillian Veal (The Parlour Cafe & Cambo Gardens Cafe)
The Parlour Cafe Cookbook was our very first publication way back in the mists of time. We owe its spectacular chef and author Gillian Veal a massive debt for launching our book list in such exquisite style.
So we thought it was only right to kick off this series with Gillian, especially as we are currently working with her on a brand new title [trumpet sounds].
The new cookbook is based around the food she creates at Cambo Gardens in the East Neuk of Fife. Her cafe is set in the old stables of the historic Cambo manor house amongst gloriously kept walled gardens which are packed full of vegetables and herbs for her to use in her culinary creations. It is a magical setting for any chef and Gillian has simply thrived there, so we are very pleased that soon she will be sharing that magic with you all.
Meanwhile we caught up with her at home and asked her a few wee questions….
Sit back and relax. It’s time for KITCHEN QUIZ!!!
Q: Hi Gillian, was there a cookbook that really inspired you?
A: The River Cafe Cook Book was the one. I loved the relationship between the two owners. It was inspiring how they bounced off each other with their knowledge of ingredients and simple approach. It set me on the path that led to The Parlour Cafe Cook Book.
Q: What is your favourite item in your kitchen that you simply couldn’t do without?
A: I love all my gran’s old pans and baking stuff. They simply don’t make them like that anymore. And I recently treated myself to a thermo mix ,which is a bit like having a second chef work with me.
Q: Do you have a favourite song, type of music or podcast you like to cook along to?
A: Oh impossible to choose any one song or genre in particular. It’s like my food, I mostly decide what I’m going to make that very day. Same with the music. It’s a good day when the right music and food comes together. I’m lucky I have so many friends around with a passion for music, so I get introduced to all sorts in the cafe. My only habit is I always listen to the radio from when I get to work till 10am. It’s like my timer to prepping for the days service. I normally listen to Radio 6, but flip over to Radio 4 as well if I’m not feeling it.
Q: If you could cook anywhere in the world in any location then where would you choose?
A: There are so many places I still have to visit, but for now Andalucia in Spain would be my number one choice. It has the perfect variety of food and cooking styles. So probably an outdoor kitchen at the top of a beautiful beach from around 4pm till sunset. And perhaps with the odd glass of vino…
Q: If you had to give one single piece of advice to someone about cooking then what would that be?
A: My one piece of cooking advice would be to engage all your senses. It’s not just about following a recipe. If something doesn’t smell, taste or feel correct then do something about it. You have to feel it. While cooking it might even involve getting to know the right sound an ingredient makes when it hits the pan. It should be a passion and not just work.
Thank you so much for doing our Kitchen Quiz Gillian. We can’t wait to try out your new recipes from Cambo very soon!
Buy The Parlour Cafe Cookbook here