Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide Press Releases

The How to Cook course was devised by Delia to teach people all the basic techniques and skills needed to cook successfully in the 21st century, as well as provide, in total, over 350 new recipes for her many fans. Books One (1998) and Two (1999) have so far sold over 2.7 million copies between them. The third and final volume, Book Three, was published in the UK on 3 December 2001 and has already sold over 300,000 copies. The accompanying Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TV series starts on Tuesday (8 Jan, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO).

The French book will be called:

La cuisine facile d'aujourd'hui, par Delia
150 recettes indispensables pour apprendre Γ  cuisiner*

* Easy cooking for today by Delia - 150 indispensable recipes for learning how to cook

Recipes selected for the book include Petites tourtes au boeuf, aux rognons et aux champignons (individual steak, mushroom and kidney pies); Rösti "bubble and squeak" (bubble and squeak rosti); Trifle à la banane, sauce Madère (butterscotch and banana trifle with Madeira); crumble aux pommes et aux amandes (apple and almond crumble); soufflés chauds au lemon curd (hot lemon curd souffles); scones au lait ribot et pâte de framboise (buttermilk scones with raspberry butter); and pommes de terre facon Welsh Rarebit (Welsh Rarebit jacket potatoes).

As in the UK, Hachette have elected to drop Delia's surname and introduce her to the French just as "Delia" from the word go. Editor Brigitte Eveno said:

"What I like about Delia, and what makes her book different from French cookery books, is that she takes the reader by the hand and helps him or her all the way, step by step. Delia is also different from French culinary authors in that her recipes are not traditional "bourgeois " dishes, but rather a mix of influences from all over the world, like contemporary British cuisine itself."

Chris Weller, Director of Book Publishing at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide (Delia's UK publisher), said:

"Editions of How to Cook have also been published in Holland, Singapore, South Africa, Australia and the USA and are selling well. We are delighted that Hachette will now be introducing Delia to the French public who will doubtless find her helpful style and delicious recipes as appealing as do her millions of UK fans."

"La cuisine facile d'aujourd'hui, par Delia" will be published in spring 2002.

Editor's Notes
Background to How to Cook: In 1998 the UK's favourite cookery writer perceived that the country was in a state of culinary crisis. Though supermarket shelves abounded with sophisticated products from all over the world and Chicken Tikka Masala was voted our favourite dish, many people had no idea how to boil an egg. Cookery was no longer on the school curriculum and was being taught less at home too. A survey showed that 18-25 year olds considered re-heating a ready-made meal to be an achievement in itself.

Renowned as a great teacher and communicator, as well as a brilliant cook, Delia rolled up her sleeves and began a labour of love that has taken her four years to complete. In October 1998 her cookery course book and series How to Cook was launched with the aim of helping uncertain cooks acquire all the essential basic culinary skills, and to provide confident cooks with a treasure-trove of new Delia fail-safe recipes.

Despite initial scepticism in some quarters, Delia's instincts were proved right. How to Cook: Books One and Two have now sold over 2.7 million copies between them. Up to five million people watched the accompanying two series on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO each week. And Delia has received hundreds of letters from grateful "students".

Book Three (the third and final volume published on 3 December 2002 by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide, price Β£18.99) has sold over 300,000 copies in four weeks. The accompanying 8-part TV series starts on Tuesday 8 January, 8.30pm Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO.

BACK TO THE TOP

PRINTABLE VERSION