The Lake House Cookbook (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Joseph Sponzo (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Since it was built in the 16th century, only five families have lived at Lake House. It was this wonderful sense of history that encouraged Trudie Styler and her family to move there. That and the fact that they would have 60 acres of land to cultivate as they pleased.

Concern for her young family's health and an active interest in the ecology of the land encouraged Trudie and her husband Sting to move toward self-sufficiency. It was a natural progression for them to move the small holding on to an organic footing, allowing them to control, and feel confident about, what they were going to eat. Today, they are self-sufficient for at least half of the year with their fruit and vegetables, honey, goat's milk cheese, milk, ducks, pigs, and fish.

This book is a snapshot of their life at Lake House. It explains the ethos behind their desire to go organic, and provides over 150 sensational recipes that Joseph Sponzo has developed for the family.

From the Inside Flap

"Moving to Lake House brought back to me my childhood dream of living on a farm. Although Sting and I are both from urban working-class backgrounds, it is with some sense of returning to our roots that we have come to Lake and are trying to live off the land . . . [as] my father and Sting's father were both keen vegetable growers."

Since it was built in the English countryside in the sixteenth century, spectacular Lake House had been lived in by only five families before Sting, Trudie Styler, and their children settled in. It was this sense of history that encouraged Trudie and her family to move there--that and the opportunity to grow their own food, given an active interest in the ecology of the land and concern for their family's health. Beginning by cultivating leafy greens and potatoes, along with basic fruits like apples and pears, she and her husband have lovingly transformed the property into a working organic farm, with more than sixty acres of fruits and vegetables, four types of livestock, and honey- and cheese-making facilities. The Lake House Cookbook, written with family chef Joseph Sponzo, offers a mouthwatering array of dishes based on the farm's yield.

Arranged seasonally, the more than 150 recipes include soups and starters, salads and vegetable dishes, main courses, desserts and baked goods, and drinks and preserves for every occasion and for the whole family. Dishes range from Roast Chicken with Corn and Broad Beans to Rolled Lamb with Chile Sauce and Mole, Swiss Chard and Pearl Barley Soup to Sea Bass with Mushrooms and Carrots, and Rustic Open Peach Pie to Herb-Brushed Polenta Bread. And while the emphasis is on organic, the ingredients themselves are very accessible and can easily be found in some variety at local stores. Lavishly illustrated with more than 300 photographs and wonderfully spirited, The Lake House Cookbook is a celebration of good food and good living.

Nestled in the English countryside, Lake House is both a stunningly beautiful English manor house and a working organic farm that is home to Sting, Trudie Styler, and their family. Illustrated with more than 300 photographs, The Lake House Cookbook celebrates a year in the life of this incredible property, offering more than 150 recipes based on the farm's yield.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1 Amer ed edition (September 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609604120
• ISBN-13: 978-0609604120
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #559,594 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Self-sufficiency from earth to table: great recipes, photos, October 23, 1999

By	"hgquinn2" (NYC, USA) - See all my reviews

This is a rich and useful book, one that, if you buy it as a gift, you will want to keep. (I bought it for myself, gave it to someone I love, regret that I don't have it now, and will buy another for msyelf!)

The Lake House Cookbook presents the practical and and artistic elements of a self-sufficent, organic food style. Trudie Styler (Sting's wife), and Joseph Sponzo (chef for the Lake House, Trudie and Sting's house in Wiltshire, GB), have collaborated to create one of the most interesting and refreshing cookbooks I've seen in a long while. The book design and photos are beautiful. The recipes are great. Ms. Styler handles the discussion about converting the Lake House property into a self-sufficent, organic farm for fruits, vegetables and animals--a very interesting and entertaining tale. Mr. Sponzo presents his philosophy and attitudes about food and cooking, and oh! -- those recipes!

What I like best about this book is that both Ms. Styler and Mr. Sponzo present their information in a dyamnic, not a didactic, way. This leaves plenty of room for the reader to respond personally and uniquely to the information in the book. You can take Trudie's story about Lake House, and apply the underlying philosophy to your own circumstances and garden. And you can use Joe's approach to food, and his recipes, as the swing point for making your own new flavor and texture combinations.

It's clear that both writers have great respect for all of life as a whole, for vegetable and animal food in its role in nourishing life, and for the interplay between all elements of life; that they both celebrate and honor foodstuffs, their preparation, and their presentation, from the earth to the table; and that they understand and can manage all the tightly interwoven aspects of life, food, finances, responsible action, and a life filled with health on all levels.

A great book, one that you'll keep pulling off the shelf to peruse, instead of reading your favorite mystery!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant! Only wish I had .., April 13, 2000

By	Tom Pogson "rhettbutler54" (Victoria, Canada) - See all my reviews

all the same facilities that Sponzo gets to work with! ;)

Seriously though, if your a Sting fan like myself, or not this is the book to have! Interesting facts on the history of Lake House, the families organic farm, and very creative food ideas!

Tom Pogson Singer/Songwriter

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good food!!, February 2, 2004

By	jc "jazzycate" - See all my reviews

Regardless of what you think of the author(s), the true test (or proof) of a good cookbook is "in the pudding," so to speak. I have owned this cookbook since it came out here in the United States, and not only do I find it charming, I have had the opportunity to try many of the recipes. They have been received with rave reviews by friends and family. I find they are easy to read and follow. The ingredients have been readily available, and the taste, in a word "superb!" Buy it, you won't regret it. But you must take the time to use it, and see for yourself!