Praise for Eleanor Ford

“Eleanor Ford’s passion shines through her beautiful and picturesque writing.” —Guild of Food Writers Awards

Praise for A Whisper of Cardamom

“Recently, I suffered a bout of cinnamon fatigue. It was … Eleanor Ford who cured me with her new cookbook, A Whisper of Cardamom, in which she explores the sweet side of spices. She offers anyone who loves cinnamon new ways to use it and those who share my malaise aromatics they can try in its stead.” —The Washington Post

“Eleanor Ford is an inspiring teacher, and it’s a joy to progress through her lessons in these pages.” —Nigella Lawson

Praise for The Nutmeg Trail

*Winner of two Gourmand World Cookbook Awards*
*Best International or Regional Cookbook, Guild of Food Writers*

“Eleanor Ford is a cook and a historian, a culinary detective, and, as she says, a gastronomic archaeologist. What a deep dive this is into the world of spice. It’s a deep dive, a culinary history, a spice library, anatomy, and miscellany. And then the recipes! Recipes which allow the reader to travel from Asia to the Middle East along the spice route, taking in so much flavor and so much context on the way. It’s the green coconut hot sauce from Somalia first up for me, followed by the green peppercorn asparagus from Thailand.” —Yotam Ottolenghi, chef, restaurateur, and author of Plenty, Jerusalem: A Cookbook, and Ottolenghi Simple

“The Nutmeg Trail: Recipes and Stories Along the Ancient Spice Routes . . . peels back layers of history—spice by spice, starting with nutmeg—from the many seasonings that have elevated food since antiquity. . . . Spices shine in recipes like Keralan black pepper chicken, and superb green peppercorn asparagus.” —The New York Times

“A transportive blend of stories and meals that are as enlightening as they are piquant.” —Publishers Weekly  ✰STARRED REVIEW ✰

“Capable of transporting readers to tables around the world from their own kitchens.” —USA Today, selected as a top summer 2022 cookbook

“Packed with fascinating history, stylish photography, useful guidelines and recipe descriptions as mouthwatering as the dishes themselves, The Nutmeg Trail is an international cookbook you’ll want to savor.” —BookTrib

“A fascinating, transporting read, packed full of intriguing recipes I can’t wait to try.” —Felicity Cloake, food writer for The Guardian and New Statesman, and author

“A fragrant, intoxicating, and mesmerizing voyage into the history and global spread of spice. With recipes every bit as delectable as the prose.” —Tom Parker Bowles, food writer and author of The Year of Eating Dangerously

“The Nutmeg Trail offers a historical account of the spice trade with invaluable advice on the use of culinary spices—how to prepare and combine them, when to introduce them, and what delights to expect. Mouthwatering.” —John Keay, historian and author of India: A History and China: A History

“In The Nutmeg Trail, Eleanor Ford takes us on a mouthwatering culinary voyage to the fabled ‘spiceries,’ those semi-mystical islands of the East Indies. A heady blend of history, adventure, and deliciously authentic recipes, this book will make you hungry!” —Giles Milton, author of Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and Nathaniel’s Nutmeg

“A fascinating and evocative journey along the spice routes, the ‘central nervous system of the world.’ The author’s blend of history, geography, taxonomy, and enticing recipes offers a fresh look at these small, potent ingredients that bring magic to our kitchens.” —Fuchsia Dunlop, author of The Food of Sichuan

“I am completely enraptured with The Nutmeg Trail. It is the perfect balance of being fascinating and mouthwatering at the same time.” —Georgina Hayden, author of Taverna

“A tantalizing treatise on the intoxicating world of spice. Eleanor has coupled essays on the history and cultural significance of spices with very enticing recipes. I cannot wait to read, meander, and cook my way along the ancient spice routes that Eleanor has so cleverly traced in this beautiful book.” —Helen Goh, recipe columnist 

“The eclectic collection of recipes from across the world will make the reader want to head straight into the kitchen to conjure up heady meals to share with their family and friends.” —Anissa Helou, author of Feast: Food of the Islamic World

“Eleanor Ford’s enticing cookbook The Nutmeg Trail explores the global history and use of spices—not just in cuisine, but in medicinal remedies, incense, and aphrodisiacs. With instructive photographs and charming graphics, as of tigers prowling alongside cinnamon sticks, The Nutmeg Trail is a heady, informative trip through the realms of spices and time.” —Foreword Reviews

“A charming read from beginning to end. . . . a remarkable book perfect for anyone who loves the culinary arts and cooking, anthropology, history, and travel. The Nutmeg Trail invites readers into an ancient and exotic era that changed the course of history and the food of today.” —Culinary Historians of Canada

Praise for Fire Islands