Jo Pratt, one of the founders of the Cookbook Festival, reports ‘Like many in the food industry, cook and food writer Fran Warde was distraught at the closure of all restaurants and pubs during lockdown. Through the Cookbook Festival – now the ‘Cookbook Kitchen’ – which she helped found, Warde reached out to the food community to connect with like-minded people and see how the were coping.

‘Her daily conversations, live on Instagram, have so far been with Jo Pratt, Henry Harris, Roopa Gulati, Trine Hahnemann, Sami Tamimi and Joe Trivelli to name just a few. There’s a wide selection of chefs, cooks and cookery writers, lined up ready and waiting, all in their own homes, to inspire with their food tips but even more so for their personal stories. Their favourite food films and books are revealed, ranging from the familiar The Joy of Cooking and The Lunchbox to the documentary Oyster and books by Harold McGee.

‘But it is their often convoluted career paths that provide some of the Kitchen Conversations’ most moving moments. For many, food is a fulfilling passion project, a second career that they were called to from fields as diverse as architecture, medicine, the City and sports science.

‘Kitchen Conversations help return hope to heart of the house, the kitchen. 6pm daily. Tune in: instagram.com/cookbookfestiv1/ for the latest lineup.

‘See the past episodes and subscribe on the Cookbook Kitchen YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCEr-ip9vo5ngMgGSKk3CcZQ.’