THE MAGIC OF a stew, it seems, occurs at the very beginning. A quiet pondering, a yearning and then, as you source and gather the ingredients, your intention hardens. The aromas bite into the kitchen atmosphere, making a statement.

As the stew simmers, time seems to slow. There’s no rush, no urgency – just the gentle rhythmic process of coaxing flavour from every ingredient. The kitchen is calm. There is a soft hum that can change to the tempo of what and who you are serving.

This book is a celebration of that tender magic. A journey into the art of stewing, where comfort meets elegance, and every meal is an opportunity to connect, to share, and to relish the beauty of life, one delicious bite at a time.

When you think of stew, your mind might immediately jump to tough cuts of meat or humble vegetables simmered into submission, but it’s much more than that. Stewing, braising or souping is the adoration of anything cooked in liquid, in a vessel, using time and tenderness to transform it. It’s an elevation of ingredients and an appreciation of culture. As you move across continents, the slight shifts in stewing traditions are fascinating – some predictable, others wildly inventive – but one thing remains consistent: gentleness.

This book is about capturing that process, all the while nourishing your own soul, whether it’s a yearning for something explosively intriguing, unctuously sexy or impossibly soft and comforting.