Elizabeth David

"The most important thing to learn is that one has to know roughly what the rules are beforeone can disregard them"

These were the words of Elizabeth David which concluded a positively mouth-watering drama celebrating her life and the impact she had on English cuisine. They encapsulate her approach to cookery and her approach to life!

Nowadays the idea of dishes from France, Italy or Spain is nothing new or even vaguely extraordinary but that is only thanks to this incredible woman who's cookery books have long sat on my shelves for far too occasional inspiration. Long before Jamie Oliver argued for healthy food for our children, this woman opposed pre-packaged foods and argued for eating this "in due season"

Of course I don't advocate a lifestyle such as hers of affairs with married men and, when she was married herself with men not her husband nor indeed her massive intake of alcohol. Yet the drama in many ways did not advocate the way she lived. It showed the troubles of her life because she lived outside the rules. However without her we might still have to buy olive oil from the chemist not from the supermarket and pasta would be available in tins in tomato sauce and in no other form! For all these things, Elizabeth, we thank you!

What Elizabeth David demonstrated was a great passion for GOOD food, for EXCELLENCE and flavour and quality. It is this kind of passion that surely we should all seek in all that we do.