Brothers’ cook book shortlisted

Gladwin brothers Richard, Gregory and Oliver who have been shortlisted in the André Simon Food and Drink Book awards with their book The Shed: The Cookbook - picture submitted

Out of 120 entrants the Gladwin brothers are one of 12 shortlisted for the 2014 food category with their cookbook ‘The Shed: The Cookbook’.

Richard Gladwin, 30, said: “It is our first book and we were a little taken aback. To be nominated is hugely exciting, even if a little daunting.”

He added: “It is certainly an honour to be shortlisted. If we win that will be more special, but a this stage we are very proud to have our own book. It does not matter if we win or lose.”

Richard added that at this stage of the competition, there are not really any losers.

Their book has capitalised on the success of Oliver, 27, and Richard’s Notting Hill Restaurant, The Shed, and Gregory’s livestock farming business.

Oliver is the head chef and Richard the manager at The Shed, as well as their new business Rabbit, in King’s Road in Chelsea.

Youngest brother Gregory, 24, supplies hand-reared livestock to the restaurants fresh from the family’s Nutbourne Vineyard and smallholding.

Richard said: “It came about very much from our upbringing. Three brothers, one restaurant.”

Their book includes 100 seasonal recipes which feature on The Shed’s menu and use ingredients foraged from beaches and hedgerows or reared on their Nutbourne farm.

Richard said: “We write in all our books that we find what grows together goes together.”

There are also personal insights from each of the brothers about farming, cooking and wine matching.

The brothers’ book is one of seven to make the shortlist, which was compiled with the help of Man Booker Prize winner Julian Barnes and author Annie Bell.

Mr Barnes said: “The quality and range of books was most impressive. I can see that the final judging will be hard-fought.”

Founded in 1972 the awards are the longest continuous running awards of their kind. This year, there are four awards - Food, Drink, the John Avery Award and a Special Commendation.

Previous winners of the prize include Michel Roux, Nigel Slater, Rick Stein and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who wrote the foreword for the Gladwins’ book.

The winner will be announced at a London ceremony on March 31, with the winner taking home £2,000.

Nicholas Lander, André Simon Food & Drink Book Award Trustee, said: “Books about food regularly top the bestseller book lists and sales last year were in excess of £87 million.

“The André Simon Food & Drink Book Awards aims to recognise and celebrate this enormously popular genre.”