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Rhubarb Rhubarb: A Correspondence Between a Hopeless Gardener and a Hopeful Cook
‘Giggles, gardens and good grub – I love these girls and I love this book’ Davina McCall
Rhubarb Rhubarb collects the witty, wide-ranging correspondence between Leiths-trained cook Mary Jane Paterson and award-winning gardener Jo Thompson. Two good friends who found themselves in a perfect world of cupcakes and centrepieces, they decided to demystify their own skills for one the results are sometimes self-deprecating, often funny, and always enlightening.
Jo would find herself one day panicking about what to cook for Easter a couple of emails with Mary Jane and the fear subsided, and sure enough, a delicious meal appeared on the table. Meanwhile, Jo helped Mary Jane combat her irrational fear of planting bulbs by showing how straightforward the process can be.
The book is full of sane, practical advice for the general it provides uncomplicated, seasonal recipes that people can make in the midst of their busy lives, just as the gardening tips are interesting, quick and helpful for beginners. Mary Jane shares secrets and knowledge gathered over a lifetime of providing fabulous food for friends and family, while Jo’s expertise in beautiful planting enables the reader to have a go at simple schemes with delightful results.
Rhubarb Rhubarb collects the witty, wide-ranging correspondence between Leiths-trained cook Mary Jane Paterson and award-winning gardener Jo Thompson. Two good friends who found themselves in a perfect world of cupcakes and centrepieces, they decided to demystify their own skills for one the results are sometimes self-deprecating, often funny, and always enlightening.
Jo would find herself one day panicking about what to cook for Easter a couple of emails with Mary Jane and the fear subsided, and sure enough, a delicious meal appeared on the table. Meanwhile, Jo helped Mary Jane combat her irrational fear of planting bulbs by showing how straightforward the process can be.
The book is full of sane, practical advice for the general it provides uncomplicated, seasonal recipes that people can make in the midst of their busy lives, just as the gardening tips are interesting, quick and helpful for beginners. Mary Jane shares secrets and knowledge gathered over a lifetime of providing fabulous food for friends and family, while Jo’s expertise in beautiful planting enables the reader to have a go at simple schemes with delightful results.
- GenresFoodNonfiction
143 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 2, 2020
I love rhubarb, I love the tang of it, the way it makes my cheeks suck in. I love the watercolour of pinks across the stem, the way it goes all stringy when you cook with it. Last year I was lucky enough to take some stalks home from a harvest at work and made a delicious rhubarb and apple crumble which I’m currently dying for.
Rhubarb Rhubarb is a conversation between two friends - one a chef, one a gardener. Both experts in their fields (ahem) the book is made up of a series of letters between the two of them, passes tips and tricks, recipes and garden designs back and forth. Basically, it is exquisite. I’ve read it through this morning, earmarking recipes and jobs to do in the garden, pouring over the illustrations and laughing at the wry observations.
There is something brilliantly comforting in this book - it might be the lemon tart recipe, it might be the kitchen garden tips, either way it feels homely and calming.
This book is going on my forever shelf, as soon as I decide if it should go with the cookery books or the gardening books. It’s also a book I’m going to be gifting for a while - to my mum, the best grow-your-own cook I know, and to anyone else I know who wants green fingers and a flour-covered apron but just needs the nudge.
Rhubarb Rhubarb is a conversation between two friends - one a chef, one a gardener. Both experts in their fields (ahem) the book is made up of a series of letters between the two of them, passes tips and tricks, recipes and garden designs back and forth. Basically, it is exquisite. I’ve read it through this morning, earmarking recipes and jobs to do in the garden, pouring over the illustrations and laughing at the wry observations.
There is something brilliantly comforting in this book - it might be the lemon tart recipe, it might be the kitchen garden tips, either way it feels homely and calming.
This book is going on my forever shelf, as soon as I decide if it should go with the cookery books or the gardening books. It’s also a book I’m going to be gifting for a while - to my mum, the best grow-your-own cook I know, and to anyone else I know who wants green fingers and a flour-covered apron but just needs the nudge.
April 6, 2020
Brimming with warmth & wit this is a delightful collection of letters past between friends; one a hopeless gardener & the other a hopeful cook will be sure to put a smile on your face.
There is something marvelously comforting about their exchange of gardening designs, recipes, tips, and handy hacks. I devoured it in a day earmarking future recipes to attempt and I'm by no means a 'Poirot of the Plantworld' but this accessible guide has encouraged me to at least try my hand at an 'instagarden'.
The beautiful illustrations, little diagrams & scrumptious pictures make this the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys gardening or cooking. This copy though this is staying firmly on my forever shelf.
Thanks to Anne Cater & Unbound for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
There is something marvelously comforting about their exchange of gardening designs, recipes, tips, and handy hacks. I devoured it in a day earmarking future recipes to attempt and I'm by no means a 'Poirot of the Plantworld' but this accessible guide has encouraged me to at least try my hand at an 'instagarden'.
The beautiful illustrations, little diagrams & scrumptious pictures make this the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys gardening or cooking. This copy though this is staying firmly on my forever shelf.
Thanks to Anne Cater & Unbound for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 18, 2024
What a lovely, sweet read! I haven’t tried the recipes yet or gardening tips but am looking forward to it. When I first read the sample, one of the ladies made a random political-esque remark in a joke (nothing too serious or cause of concern) and I thought “oh great, I hope the whole book isn’t like this”. I’m glad to say that it stops after that while still having a great non-political sense of humor. If any of you were put off by the sample because of that, please know that does not speak for the whole book. It’s very enjoyable and indeed recommend it
April 2, 2020
A book guaranteed to cheer you up if you like cooking or gardening or both. Lots of recipes from the cook and garden hints from the gardener. You feel that you might actually use the suggestions too! Of course the real problem is if you do put it on the book shelves would you file it under cook books or gardening!!
February 14, 2021
Best of both worlds. Great recipes and wonderful gardening tips. The illustrations are lovely. It’s uplifting and amusing and you get a good feel for the friendship between the authors. I’ve bought a copy for a friend ans recommended it to others.
February 16, 2021
An enjoyable mix of recipes, gardening tips and charming correspondence.
January 20, 2022
The perfect time to dive into this delight, January mid-winter
thoughts of the garden and some delicious recipes, as well as a beautiful friendship!
thoughts of the garden and some delicious recipes, as well as a beautiful friendship!
May 5, 2020
There is something deeply special about this book! I identify with both the hopeless gardener and the hopeful cook on the front cover, though I should first confess that I am somewhat hopeless at both. My garden survives despite of me and my cooking, well the less said about that the better. So reading this joyful book, gave me both heart and hope that I can one day achieve some level of competence in both.
Wise words were in the correspondence from gardener to cook, I particularly connected with “seems to me that what stops me baking is sheer terror, everything looks so daunting when presented in a book….” oh god this is so me! I have cookbooks, but they scare me rigid! Yet the patient advice within Rhubarb Rhubarb made me feel at ease and the delicious recipes within and the book with clear no nonsense instruction where simply brilliant.
It’s the warmth of the correspondence between both that gave me a sense of peace, the humour that shines from each page, gave me a much needed lift and left me feeling a sense of gratitude to them both. I smiled at the advice about growing hydrangeas, which just as in the book are the mainstay of my garden, safe largely from my inexperienced hands. While I identified with the cooks statement that I am often too disorganised to do it as well as the gardener herself, I loved her honesty and it reminded me, that gardening might not be her forte, but cooking is and that is where her strengths lie.
Between the two, gardener and cook, this book reminded me that we all have our strengths in life and by sharing them with others, in correspondence as in Rhubarb Rhubarb, we are gifting others a precious gift. Both Mary Jane Paterson and Jo Thompson did this for each other and through this book, with us.
Everyone should buy it, not just for themselves but for those they love. It is not just a book about gardening and cooking, it’s an ode to friendship, kindness and the joy of sharing.
Wise words were in the correspondence from gardener to cook, I particularly connected with “seems to me that what stops me baking is sheer terror, everything looks so daunting when presented in a book….” oh god this is so me! I have cookbooks, but they scare me rigid! Yet the patient advice within Rhubarb Rhubarb made me feel at ease and the delicious recipes within and the book with clear no nonsense instruction where simply brilliant.
It’s the warmth of the correspondence between both that gave me a sense of peace, the humour that shines from each page, gave me a much needed lift and left me feeling a sense of gratitude to them both. I smiled at the advice about growing hydrangeas, which just as in the book are the mainstay of my garden, safe largely from my inexperienced hands. While I identified with the cooks statement that I am often too disorganised to do it as well as the gardener herself, I loved her honesty and it reminded me, that gardening might not be her forte, but cooking is and that is where her strengths lie.
Between the two, gardener and cook, this book reminded me that we all have our strengths in life and by sharing them with others, in correspondence as in Rhubarb Rhubarb, we are gifting others a precious gift. Both Mary Jane Paterson and Jo Thompson did this for each other and through this book, with us.
Everyone should buy it, not just for themselves but for those they love. It is not just a book about gardening and cooking, it’s an ode to friendship, kindness and the joy of sharing.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews