Sarah Leahey Benjamin
http://www.sarahleaheybenjamin.com
Chef and author Sarah Leahey Benjamin is one of the founding collaborators of the Dirt Cafe project. Her roles on the project have been many, including faciliating the brainstorming process. For the created the menus for the Intangibles and Regeneration Debate, as well as co-created the meny for the Plastic Debate with Sarah Freeman. She is collaborating on site for the Dirt Cafe Water Debate and Water Salon for the 2007 London Design Festival.
Sarah and designer Claire Hartten, one of other co-founders of the Dirt Cafe project, began working on experimental projects together in 2002, including a special event for Slow Food London that explored 'moulding' of food and of experience through the sharing of food and conviviality.
A year ago, Sarah joined forces with photographer George Nicholson, cook/writer Sarah Freeman and designer Catherine Dixon to create the 'Borough Market Cookbook: Meat & Fish' in celebration of the Market's 275th anniversary.
As described on George Nicholson's web site: 'Photography is by George Nicholson, who has also been one of the leading figures in the development of the famous London Market over the past 10 years. The cookbook features 150 recipes by author of "The Best of Modern British Cookery" - Sarah Freeman and Sarah Leahy Benjamin. The cookbook also features 16 of the Market's key producers, from their own backyards to the weekly visit to the market stall. The recipes cover the entire spectrum of dishes, from quick-and-easy to impressive signature dishes.'
As described on Amazon.com, 'Synopsis
"The Borough Market Cookbook: Meat and Fish" is the result of a wonderful collaboration of devotees of the market celebrating food and cooking. 'This is a cookbook to be cherished and passed on from generation to generation. The cookbook features interviews with a some of the market's traders by Sarah Freeman, author of "The Best of Modern British Cookery", which reveal the passion and process behind their livelihoods.In tandem with Sarah Leahey-Benjamin, a cookery teacher at Divertimenti, they have created 150 recipes that bring out the best of cooking with fresh produce, all of which is available through the Borough Market. The recipes cover canapes, starters, main courses and signature dishes sourced from producers and traders who are relentlessly passionate about their livestock and livelihood and for whom provenance is paramount. The book is illustrated with the evocative photography of George Nicholson, Former Chairman of the Borough Trustees, who has been travelling around the country visiting meat and fish traders in their own back yard capturing images of the producers at work.This is the first in a series of cookbooks featuring the traders in the market and their produce. Publisher, Tobias Steed, says: "Sarah Freeman through her interviews has seen the spirit with which these dedicated professionals have passionately pursued their work. George with his photography has done a wonderful job of extracting the essence of the traders in their own landscape. He has avoided any sentimentality and has maintained the dignity of the animals he has captured with his photography. The book is not only a true testament to the quality of the produce available through the market, but with the fabulous recipes created by Sarah Freeman and Sarah Leahy Benjamin an essential tool for all market goers. I am proud to be associated with this book." The cookbook also addresses the importance of issues such as market shopping -vs- supermarket shopping and and advice on how to shop in markets, 'slow food' and sustainability. "Borough Market Cookbook" has been designed by Catherine Dixon, a professor at St Martins College of Art & Design and features illustrations by short-listed V&A Student Illustrator of the Year, Emma Lofstrom.'