“Having read her first book, The Flavour Thesaurus, I can’t say I’m surprised by Segnit’s scholarship, her feeling for food or, indeed, her wit. Segnit is truly a one-woman Larousse. Only the scope is so much wider and deeper: this book covers continents!…despite its encyclopaedic reach, [Lateral Cooking] is conversational in tone and beautifully written. I can lose myself in it at any time, from any page, and you could cook from it over a whole lifetime, and still be learning.” (Nigella Lawson)
“Spectacularly good…If it were a novel, it’d be a shoo-in for the Booker…undoubtedly the cookbook of the year – possibly the decade” (Elizabeth Luard)
“In her writing, Niki Segnit brings together a towering edifice of cooks, food writers and experts to inspire the utmost confidence. And even as she presents their weightier points, she makes absolutely sure noone falls asleep. Chuckling away while reading a book about food is not something that happens to me very often; it’s a regular occurrence with either of Segnit’s books on my lap” (Yotam Ottolenghi)
“Segnit’s book is wonderful, of course, because of the clear interconnectedness of food that it demonstrates, and the fundamental cooking techniques that it teaches brilliantly. But the coolest part is that Segnit makes a point of relating ingredients, flavors, and dishes from various cuisines around the world, transforming this volume into a sort of culinary anthropology.” (Brinda Ayer, Food52)
“Segnit brings a vast breadth of knowledge to this massive and quietly playful exploration of the art and science of cooking…this extraordinary cookbook provides a treasure map full of both straightforward satisfactions and rewarding detours” (Publishers Weekly)
“What makes this book really special, just like The Flavour Thesaurus, aside from Niki’s impressive expertise, is her humour and personality. It’s a joy to read” (Olive magazine)
“It’s a clever idea…a fabulous read” (Harry Wallop, The Times)
“Segnit is a warm and funny writer, which makes what might be an intimidating book surprisingly approachable…one of the most exciting cookery books I’ve read this year” (Olivia Potts, Literary Review)
“Lateral Cooking is a beautifully simple book that just makes sense. I’m hooked again” (Kenny Tutt, MasterChef champion 2018)
“If you’re a food geek or want to really understand food or just want a go to book for recipes then this should be alongside The Silver Spoon and Le Repertoire, that’s where it’s going on my shelf” (Mat Follas, MasterChef champion 2009)
“It’s a book you’ll buy not so much for the recipes, though there are plenty, but the insights it will give you on how the whole process of cooking works…A cracking read” (Fiona Beckett)
“This isn’t a reference book, it’s an engrossing read for foodies” (What’s Hot blog)
“A cooking bible…a must-have in every kitchen, I’m blown away!” (Amy Treasure blog)
“It’s an absolute triumph, want to take a week off work to read it and cook as I go…cannot recommend enough! If you loved The Flavour Thesaurus, this is basically Christmas” (Rukmini Iyer)
“Want to graduate from a rigid recipe-follower to an instinctive, ingredient-led cook? Niki Segnit shows you how” (Waitrose Food)
“A textbook you’ll turn to for all your culinary core techniques and queries” (Good Housekeeping)