Annie's Farmhouse Kitchen is a window on the bucolic world of acclaimed Victorian chef Annie Smithers. The book includes a best-of selection of three and four-course menus collected by Annie over the three years of her restaurant, du Fermier, in Trentham. While part of du Fermier's appeal is undeniably its charming central Victorian location, this farmhouse-style eatery is the sort of place intrepid food lovers might equally stumble across in rural France or Dorset or California. Annie's food is classic French Provincial, presented with a distinct pared back, accessible aesthetic (no fuss, with preparation, anyone can do this!), and determined very much by whatever is thriving in her rambling home vegetable garden in Malmsbury. As well as being fully illustrated with delightful watercolours by Robin Cowcher - meet the cat 'Kitten', meet the geese, meet the dog Tommy - Annie's Farmhouse Kitchen also includes photographs that offer another valuable visual dimension to this compelling package.
In addition to seasonal recipes (four menus per season), Annie's Farmhouse Kitchen presents readers with four standout feasts: deep mid-winter; summer solstice; spring bounty; and autumn harvest. Annie's distinct voice features throughout - both guiding readers with advice about getting the best results from her recipes (what went wrong? what about leftovers? why, exactly, is this pastry so good?), and via occasional entertaining vignettes that tell the story of the daily challenges and victories inevitably associated with running a successful small restaurant in a country town - solo.