The enlightened reprint policy of the specialist London publishers, Grub Street, has slowly unearthed some forgotten jewels over the years, and they have struck the right note once again with a new edition of Colman Andrew's excellent Catalan Cuisine.
Europe's Last Great Culinary Secret is the sub-title, and the scholarly and thorough Mr Andrews leads us through the intriguing cooking of a most quixotic region. He admits that "Catalan cuisine isn't very pretty sometimes" - centred as it is around caramelised onions, melted-down tomatoes, almonds, saffron and other distinctly brownish ingredients - but I have always found this a rewarding book, and greatly more authentic than most books on Spanish cookery.
Catalan Cuisine by Colman Andrews is published by Grub Street, price £14.99 in the UK
