Celebrities have dished up their top recipes for a new cookbook to raise vital funds for Sobell House hospice during the coronavirus pandemic.
Food & Kindness brings together over 30 stories and recipes from a wide range of local chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and celebrities.
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Many of them hold the hospice based at the Churchill Hospital site close to their heart.
Stephen Fry
In the new book readers will find a recipe for hummus from Stephen Fry; the ‘perfect’ vegetable soup handed down to Mel Giedroyc by her mum; a tasty vegan lunch courtesy of Sue Perkins; and the star of BBC3 mockumentary This Country, Paul Chahidi, who is an ambassador for Sobell House and proudly showcases his Mediterranean pork, lemon and parmesan meatball dish.
Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins
The recipes collection is being published to raise awareness and funds for the hospice and also recognises some of the local businesses in the food and drink industry that have supported Sobell House over the years, and have been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Fundraising spokeswoman Lorraine Pink said she realised that Covid-19 was going to have a serious impact on the charity’s income.
She added: “We needed to look at alternative ways to engage with our supporters as we could no longer hold our annual fundraising events.
“A cookbook featuring local businesses who have been so kind to Sobell House over the years seemed the perfect choice.”
Paul Chahidi's meatball dish
Tim Wraith, who has worked with Sobell House for many years and a great ‘foodie’ was the ideal person to lead the project.
He said: “I am a big foodie person and own lots of recipe books so was delighted to get involved. At Sobell House, we receive incredible kindness from the local hospitality businesses and this is an opportunity for us to support them at this tough time. The whole cost of the book has been sponsored by local businesses which means all the money raised goes to supporting Sobell House.”
Alongside famous supporters, plenty of Oxfordshire eateries have also got involved with the book, giving readers the chance to make some of their best-loved dishes at home and discover the stories behind each unique venture. Among these are waterside destination The Cherwell Boathouse with breaded halloumi and sweetcorn fritters; brasserie No. 1 Ship Street with French onion soup; and South Indian restaurant Bhoomi Kitchen with Keralan fried chicken.
A beetroot and mint burger
Since 1976, the hospice, which is jointly funded by the NHS and Sobell House Hospice Charity, has been providing specialist end-of-life and palliative care to people with life-limiting illnesses as well as supporting their families.
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The idea for the book came in March around the time lockdown restrictions were introduced. Food & Kindness is a 144-page paperback and costs £15. It will be available from Amazon and bookshops.
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