We’re All Much More Likely To Promote Something In Which We’ve Played A Part

I’ll sometimes post about a cookbook I’ve been sent if I really love it – and I love a lot of them. My husband has now insisted upon a ‘one in, one out’ policy to prevent our bookcases from buckling. I’ll also get a mention into the Telegraph Magazine, or another section, wherever possible – luckily we have a guest slot for recipes every now and then.

But an absolute guarantee of getting me to shout about a cookbook (indeed to get anyone to shout about a cookbook) is to include them in the book itself.

This week sees the publication of ‘These Delicious Things’, a collection of recipes by dozens of food world luminaries, from Stanley Tucci to Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson to, well, me. It’s the only time I’ll ever have a recipe published alongside such stars but I was lucky enough to be invited to contribute. 

The book is to raise money for the children’s food poverty charity Magic Breakfast, with whom I’ve been involved for many years. Each contributor was asked for a food memory as well as a recipe, so it’s a wonderful read, do buy a copy. 

But back to my point: we’re all much more likely to promote something in which we’ve played a part, so while I wouldn’t suggest tapping up all of Britain’s food writers and editors to collaborate on everything, it’s worth considering in some cases. Cookalongs, ingredient testing, invites to sit on panels – to name a few…

[Note: this is different to paying a restaurant critic to advertise your vegan sausages. That’s another story!]