Rick Stein, the renowned TV chef and author, will be appearing at Waterstones in Morpeth on Thursday, November 13 to sign copies of his latest book, Rick Stein’s Christmas. Caroline Dominey spoke with him ahead of the event about the book and his personal connection to Christmas.
The idea for the book came from Stein’s wife, Sarah, who encouraged him for years to create a Christmas-themed cookbook. Being Australian, Sarah especially cherishes the festive season in the UK, which influenced the book’s creation. Stein explains that Christmas often slips our minds until it arrives, but once he began recalling recipes and memories, the project quickly came together.
“I think we all love Christmas in our heart, it’s something that matters to us in this slightly rainy island and it was a joy to do.”
Stein highlights traditional Christmas foods like turkey, glazed ham, and various seasonal accompaniments such as chutneys, jams, and mulled wines as key festive pleasures. Additionally, he expresses a strong affection for Christmas music, dedicating a section of the book to Christmas No. 1 songs and sharing his love for carols and carol services.
“There are so many things that interest me, and, I suspect, other people, about Christmas.”
Rick Stein’s new Christmas book warmly celebrates festive traditions through recipes, music, and memories, capturing the essence of the holiday season in the UK.