Food writer Susie Anderson reviews 'Something for the Weekend' by Ruth Watson

Suffolk hotelier Ruth Watson of the Crown and Castle Hotel and Trinity Bistro, Orford, is an award winning food writer and presenter of The Hotel Inspector on Five. Her recent venture into the pub world (she and her husband, David Watson, are now running The King’s Head pub at Orford, where the new bar meals are extremely appetising and scrumptious) has not dampened her ardour for writing.

Having amassed cookery books since the dawn of time, I do sometimes have a rather cynical approach to cookery books aimed, like Something for the Weekend, at those with ambitions to cook an interesting and pleasurable meal for friends – the subtitle is ‘with eight around the table’ - however this book was retail therapy indeed.

The immediate appeal is that it strikes a perfect balance; its easy, reassuring tone is great for the novice lacking confidence and yet it is not at all insulting to the experienced cook. Ruth Watson’s style is certainly not that of a prima donna chef who writes to boost his or her own ego with totally impossible recipes for the home cook, nor is it full of irritating cosy chat about recipes sourced from long-dead relatives.

Ruth Watson has a fresh, modern approach with recipes designed to serve eight, not so much for ‘entertaining’ and the ensuing panic that the very word can instil in busy people, but for ‘fun’. The entire concept of the book is brilliant – from its great title, sound advice and comprehensive list of sources to its occasional, slightly whacky humour which makes it good to browse as well as consult.

The recipes are well set out and easy to follow, each accompanied by useful information and the sound advice ‘keep it simple’. It is divided into sections which are logical but at the same time somehow comforting. The vegetarian section is inspiring with a nod to fish called ‘footless food’. Any serious but busy cook will love ‘fudge-it-nicely puds’ the section to follow the glorious, but more time-consuming variety.

It is an intelligent book written with flair and great expertise and could provide a one stop Christmas shop; buy it for all your friends. Those that are great cooks will love it. As for those whose company you adore a great deal more than their food, Something for the Weekend will hopefully allow you to have a little more delicious anticipation when next you visit.

Buy Something for the Weekend: With Eight Around the Table (amazon)