Taste by Kate Colquhoun

Subtitling her book 'the story of Britain through its cooking', Kate Colquhoun shows that what and how we cook and eat reflects society, from the Roman occupiers to Jamie Oliver. Her refreshing, anecdotal style means that tidbits of information (dinner-party conversation, perhaps?) enliven every page.

Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, for example, cut back our consumption of fish - monks' fishponds and 'fish days' vanished along with Catholicism.

The book is a beautifully illustrated reminder of our surprisingly rich culinary tradition.