A deliciously evocative story of childhood in 1960s suburban England from one of the United 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.

"His writing could not be more palate-cleansing... his acidic riffs put you in mind of Nick Hornby, Martin Amis and Philip Larkin all at the same time." The New York Times

"Nigel Slater at his unpretentious, delicious best." Nigella Lawson, author of How to Be a Domestic Goddess

"A banquet of unlikely delectations... England?s answer to Anthony Bourdain?s Kitchen Confidential." Daily Telegraph (UK)

"Nigel Slater's Toast eats its way through a difficult childhood... this is an ingenious and touching treat." Hermione Lee, Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year 2003 (UK)

"Toast follows a recipe — boyhood blues without bitterness — that looks simple yet is actually hard to pull off. Slater manages it." Guardian (UK)

"Delightful... singular and original." Evening Standard (UK)

"A vivid record of people whose lives never warrant the study of historians, biographers or even novelists... wonderful... extraordinary." Matthew Fort, The Observer (UK)

"Toast" is Slater's extraordinary story of a childhood remembered through food. A bestseller and award-winner in the United Kingdom, "Toast" is sure to delight both foodies and memoir readers on this side of the pond.

A deliciously evocative story of childhood in 1960s suburban England from one of the United Kingdomas 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 familyas pantryarice pudding, tinned ham, cream soda, mince pies, lemon drops, bourbon biscuitsawe are transporteda]

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, Nigelas 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. Nigelas 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 Reichlas Tender at the Bone and the disarming frankness of Anthony Bourdainas page-turning Kitchen Confidential, Toast is a treat to be savored. BACKCOVER: aNigel Slater at his unpretentious, delicious best.a aNigella Lawson, author of How to Be a Domestic Goddess

aHis writing could not be more palate-cleansinga] his acidicriffs put you in mind of Nick Hornby, Martin Amis and Philip Larkin all at the same time.a aThe New York Times

aNigel is a genius.a aJamie Oliver, author of Jamieas Kitchen, The Naked Chef, and Happy Days with the Naked Chef

aNigel Slater's Toast is an exceptional book. It brilliantly weaves hungers together: belly hunger, sexual hunger, and the hunger for love and loss. I loved every page and the poignancy of being a child is dead on.a aJane Stern, author of Ambulance Girl, coauthor of Roadfood, and contributing editor at Gourmet magazine

aI enjoyed every moment of reading Nigel Slater's Toast, It's hard to imagine a more elegantly rendered memoir of growing up. Funny, poignant, artful, erotic, sad, a story conveyed through intelligent and unsentimental proseathe book is a jewel.a aMichael Ruhlman, author of The Soul of a Chef

aToast is a remarkable story of a young man's life, and the food that nourished it. Well written, lively and engaging.a aMarie Simmons, author of Fig Heaven

aThe genius of his food writing comes from an obvious belief that food and happiness share the same organ in the brain.a aLynne Truss

aConvincing, engaging, and rich with detail, Slateras prose lets readers taste the pink marshmallows, smell the freshly baked oat cookies, and feel the crunch of the green beans. Paced as superbly as a seven-course meal, Toast is] able to engage the heart and the memory as well as the taste buds.--Publishers Weekly

aA banquet of unlikely delectationsa] Englandas answer to Anthony Bourdainas Kitchen Confidential.a aDaily Telegraph (UK)

aNo one writes more temptingly about food.a aThe Independent (UK)

aAninspired memoir, boil-in-the-bag Proust a aTim Adams, Observer (UK)

aThis artful, disconcerting, endearing book deserves a place in the literature of childhood unhappiness and survival against the odds.a aDaily Telegraph (UK)

aA vivid record of people whose lives never warrant the study of historians, biographers or even novelists... wonderful... extraordinary.a aMatthew Fort, The Observer (UK)

aNigel Slater's Toast eats its way through a difficult childhood... this is an ingenious and touching treat.a aHermione Lee, Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year 2003 (UK)

aUtterly irresistiblea] You read this remarkable memoir partly cringing, partly marvelling at Slateras hallucinogenic retrieval off times past. He is the Proust of the Nesquik Era. a Independent Books of the Year (UK)

aProves he can write mouth-wateringly about families and life, too: I gobbled it up.a aDaily Telegraph Books of the Year (UK)

aToast follows a recipeaboyhood blues without bitternessathat looks simple yet is actually hard to pull off. Slater manages it.a aGuardian (UK)

aDelightfula] singular and original.a aEvening Standard (UK)