Leon 2: Naturally Fast Food

Since opening their first shop on London's Carnaby Street in July 2004, Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent have gone some way to achieving their goal, which is to change the face of fast food.

FAST FOOD

Leon now has nine restaurants, serving over 50,000 people a week on ‘fast food' of the unprocessed, healthy, fresh and satisfying variety. The formula has been a huge success with its famous meatballs, healthy superfood salads and chicken curries proving the perfect healthy alternative to a nasty lunchtime sandwich or greasy burger.

The first Leon cookbook was a runaway hit, and the second is just as inspiring when it comes to preparing delicious food at home. The book is divided into two halves. The first half, Fast Food, provides recipes that shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to prepare: from a workday breakfast to party food to children's snacks to quick and easy puddings, this is manna from heaven when you're short on time but big on hunger.

FAST SLOW FOOD

The second half of the book covers Fast Slow Food, for when you have a little more time to spare when preparing a meal. This book is beautifully put together with a scrapbook-like quality that makes browsing an utter pleasure. There are recipes from friends and family with Polaroid style snaps next to each; quick tips and advice on things such as what go grow on your windowsill or store in your larder; lots of colour; and an informal style, which reflects the nature of the recipes and what cooking should be.

Learn how to pot meats, cook with rice, potatoes, couscous and quinoa, make cocktails, winning salads, slow cooked stews, fabulous pasta and much, much more. With Leon Book 2 (and Book 1) in the kitchen, the kitchen is a very lovely place to be. Buy the book from amazon.

Emily Jenkinson

1 October 2010