Toast, Nigel Slater
Toast, Nigel Slater
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Toast
The Story of a Boy's Hunger

Author: Nigel Slater

Narrator: Nigel Slater

Unabridged: 6 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 10/07/2004


Synopsis

A deliciously evocative story of childhood in 1960s suburban England from one of theUnited Kingdom's best-loved writers, Nigel Slater

Toast is the truly extraordinary story of a childhood remembered through food. In each chapter, as Nigel Slater takes us on a tour of the contents of his family's pantry—rice pudding, tinned ham, cream soda, mince pies, lemon drops, bourbon biscuits—we are transported…His mother is a chops-and-peas sort of cook, exasperated by the highs and lows of a temperamental stove, a finicky little son, and the asthma that would prove fatal. His father is a honey-and-crumpets man with an unpredictable temper. When he is widowed, Nigel's father takes on a housekeeper with social aspirations and a talent in the kitchen and the following years become a heartbreaking cooking contest for his affections. As he slowly loses, Nigel finds a new outlet for his culinary gifts and we witness the birth of a lifelong passion for food. Nigel's likes and dislikes, aversions and sweet-toothed weaknesses, form a fascinating backdrop to this exceptionally moving memoir of childhood, adolescence, and sexual awakening.With a new preface and glossary for American readers, this British bestseller and national award winner is sure to delight foodies and memoir enthusiasts on this side of the pond. Possessed of the subtlety and wit of Ruth Reichl's Tender at the Bone and the disarming frankness of Anthony Bourdain's page-turning Kitchen Confidential, Toast is a treat to be savored.

About The Author

Nigel Slater is the author of a collection of bestselling books, including the classics Real Fast FoodAppetite, and the critically acclaimed The Kitchen Diaries. He has written a much-loved column for The Observer (London) for 18 years and is the presenter of the award-winning BBC series Simple Suppers. His memoir, Toast: The Story of a Boy’s Hunger, has won six major awards, including British Biography of the Year, and has been adapted into a BBC film. To learn more, visit nigelslater.com.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mike on June 20, 2024

Like Proust’s madeleines Nigel Slater’s memories of childhood are triggered by food. Each short chapter from Christmas Cake, Tinned Ham, Cold Lamb and Gravy Skin brings out a reminiscence. I have to say I like Slater’s cooking shows and recipe books. My wife suggested I read this and I am glad I did......more

Goodreads review by Julie on July 18, 2011

I wouldn't say this was a bad book but it was very different from my expectations. I had expected something funny and tongue-in-cheek about growing up with a mother who couldn't cook. It's actually much darker, exploring a childhood stained with death and a dysfunctional step family. There's also far......more

Goodreads review by Lynne on August 09, 2012

I really wanted to like this book - I really did - as I generally like Slater as a food writer and presenter. But 'Toast' left a bitter taste - not what you want from a food-based memoir. The nostalgia felt heavy-handed, the humour (for instance the used condom incident) felt forced and cynical and......more