The Dining Room was a small independent restaurant in the Fife town of Kirkcaldy.

We had a simple ethos; Delicious food, lovingly prepared. That had been our mantra for 6 years and we worked hard to be the absolute best we could be.

Our menus showcased the best local produce, freshly made to order in a convivial, stylish and relaxed space and our hard earned reputation spoke for itself.

But in Spring 2020, the world suddenly changed. We found ourselves, along with every other bar, restaurant, hotel, cafe, quest house and pub in the country, closed for the foreseeable future.

Takeaway wasn't an option for us so we really needed to find a way to stay connected with all our lovely customers.

So, I started writing up recipes of the day on social media. Things that I had cooked at home, things that were easy to prepare, joyful to eat and that could take our minds off the world around us for a while

The response was humbling. People suddenly started engaging, discovering new or long ignored skills, many had questions, many more became friends through the simple art of cooking.

That's the thing about food, it brings people together. It soothes, it calms, it nourishes us mentally, emotionally and physically and it invisibly links us to each other in ways it is impossible to fully understand.

I didn't mean to write this book, it happened entirely by accident. It mentions, and once or twice borrows from, people I admire hugely for their skill, expertise and passion but at its heart it comes directly trom my kitchen to yours with unconfined love and joy.

I hope you enjoy it.