This book takes me back to my past as if it was yesterday. ‘Island Harvest’ by Nick Nairn is a lovely book, with many dishes I know well. I worked with Nick a few times and we got on very well. I took over at his restaurant in Aberfoyle called Braeval and cooked some of my best food there, then went on to be head chef at Nairns in Glasgow. This was not yesterday, it was almost 30 years ago, and the book was made into a series for television too.

The food in this book still stands the test of time, with some great dishes. Rosti with spinach, poached farm eggs and mustard hollandaise (a very me dish) and Scottish ale-braised oxtail with butterbeans, to griddled trout with herb beurre blanc and warm butter cake. Really good, simple cookery and food I want to eat.

He is still cooking brilliantly at his cookery school in Stirlingshire, do go and support him. He is a great guy, lots of experience and just wants people to eat good food, and I second that. A shout out to the photographs in this book by Jean Cazals, nice, simple and sharp. All in all, a great book. Well done Nick.