The Borough Cookbook: Meat & Fish

Writing Sarah Freeman and Sarah Leahey-Benjamin
Photography George Nicholson
Design Catherine Dixon
Illustration Emma Lofstrom
Publisher Tobias Steed

From the Foreword

The Borough Market recently celebrated 250 years of trading on its current site at the foot of London Bridge. A market of one sort or other has survived in this area since Roman times and a recorded market place for at least a thousand years – a testament to how a market providing the finest of produce can be an essential focal point for a community and a hub of commerce. No longer the ‘best kept secret in London’ the Market is now known throughout Britain and renowned in continental Europe as a centre of food excellence.
The Borough Market Cookbook: Meat & Fish is a further example of that excellence. This is an essential tool for any chef, whether novice or professional, to prepare and savour dishes and meals with produce from the traders in the market. The provenance of their produce is unsurpassed and so are the team behind this cookbook. This is not the work of a single individual but a collective effort that reflects the Market and its collaborative and community driven ethos.

Former Chairman of the Trustees George Nicholson has travelled around the country visiting meat and fish traders in their own back yard to capture images of them at work, while Sarah Freeman, author of The best of modern British cookery has been interviewing the traders to understand the passion and process behind their livelihoods.

The cookbook features interviews with sixteen traders and around 150 recipes all of which can be prepared with produce available through the Market. This is the first of a series of cookbooks. George, with his photography, extracts the essence of the traders in their own landscape and maintains the dignity of the animals captured on these pages. Sarah Freeman through her interviews has seen the spirit with which these dedicated professionals have passionately pursued their work.

“The book is not only a true testament to the quality of the produce available through the Market, but with the fabulous recipes created by Sarah Freeman and Sarah Leahey-Benjamin an essential tool for all Market goers.”
Simone Crofton Chief Executive,The Borough Market

“An unexpected delight. It’s great stories of some of the stallholders at Borough. Fantastic photos give a real sense of what farming is like. It is an ideal mixture of taking me into the lives of producers and also telling me how to cook well. Highly recommended.” Sheila Dillon, BBC Radio 4 Food Programme