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My Father Could Only Boil Cornflakes
by Peter Bayless BBC Masterchef winner 2006

Book Description
This is the story of a lifetime's love affair with food, a passion that led Peter Bayless, at the age of almost sixty, to enter the BBC's Masterchef Goes Large 2006 competition. Against all odds – including a debilitating bout of food poisoning (not from his own cooking) in the final stages, and the often barely-concealed desire of the production company for a different winner – he emerged triumphant, claiming to unanimous acclaim a prize that had at times seemed to have been placed completely beyond his grasp.

Told with warmth and humour, Peter's story, from first memories of food in his mother's kitchen to the moment of his final triumph, is a constant delight for all who share his passions for both food and life: along the way it also strips bare many of the machinations and undercurrents that lurk beneath the surface of such a high profile televisual event. His journey is studded with 62 recipes, waypoints on a lifetime of wonder at the glorious potential of what we eat. Each of them demonstrates his individual and practical approach to cooking both classics of French cuisine and unfairly neglected great British dishes, an approach that, above all else, reveals an amateur in the truest sense of the word.

With a foreword by Michel Roux Jr, a firm admirer of Peter’s culinary talents, case bound with dustjacket and illustrated with superb colour photographs, My Father Could Only Boil Cornflakes is a high quality addition to the kitchen library, and an inspiration to the ever- increasing army of aspiring home cooks.

A very different approach - 2006
Reviewer: R Taylor

I was rapt by the whole series and think the format made for excellent television. Unlike other so-called Reality TV shows, Masterchef Goes Large really is an exploration of an individual's skills and talent and Peter Bayless, without a shadow of a doubt, was the most able and gifted of the contestants. His book is a departure from your usual cookery books in that it is also a journey through Peter's life and explains his influences through the years, culminating in his victory on Materchef Goes Large 2006. It is told in a warm, intimate way and also gives an insight into the workings of programme makers and the BBC. The recipes themselves are not overly complicated and range from British classics through to more refined French cuisine. It is also beautifully illustrated. Well done sir!

A real Inspiration - 2006
Reviewer: Mr G A Voce

An excellent book with elegant photography and skilfully written witty stories, oh and some fabulous recipes too!! Peter's story of his journey to becoming Masterchef really inspires you the reader to get in the kitchen and try the recipes provided; so far the results have been fantastic. Overall I can't recommend this book highly enough!

Great Book by Peter Bayless - MasterChef 2006 winner - 2006
Reviewer: Book Reader

This is a beautifully written book and not just a recipe book. Peter Bayless clearly knows about food. So much information about MasterChef and things that we really did not know from the programme, and that we should have known!! Lots of chapters on this and how he got interested in food written with a great deal of humour and sense of fun. Fab recipes too, a really good buy with superb photos.

Beautiful book with great recipes - would make a lovely present - 2006
Reviewer: Ms S E Vaizey

The first thing you notice when you see this book is how beautifully done it is. From front to back the book is absolutely lovely and would make a fantastic Christmas present. The photographs are really scrummy and make you want to cook all of the many dishes Peter Bayless has created. I'm not a particularly good cook but after seeing Peter Bayless on Masterchef 2006 and his obivous passion for food, I decided to give it a bit more of a go. The recipes are really good for people of all abilities and unlike some other books I have seen in the past, the recipes are great for cooking a lovely meal during the week as well as creating fantastic menus for dinner parties. Most of all though, the RECIPES ACTUALLY WORK!!! Throughout the book, Peter also takes the reader on a journey all about how he learnt to cook. The stories are beautifully written and absolutely hilarious in places! To sum up, I cannot fault this first book by Peter Bayless. It would make a great present for all ages or perhaps a little treat for yourself! I look forward to more of your work Peter!

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If you want to order a copy of the book - click here (UK)

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