River Cottage Australia host Paul West talks about his new book ahead of his Adelaide visit
River Cottage Australia host Paul West remains “blown away” by the TV show’s enduring popularity and reveals it’s influenced his new book.
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River Cottage Australia host Paul West remains “blown away” by the TV show’s enduring popularity.
“To this day, people still ask about it. I’m stopped almost on a daily basis by fans asking when it’s coming back. There’s still a real love for it,” says West of the popular series which aired for four seasons on Foxtel’s Lifestyle Channel.
“I really feel like it’s become this cultish program, I never understood at the time how much it resonated with people.”
While the show ended in 2016, West decided to use the same values he promoted on River Cottage Australia in his new book, The Edible Garden Cookbook & Growing Guide.
“It’s about bringing the principles of food and cooking and community from the show, and putting that into the context of where most people live,” says the former chef, who is appearing in Adelaide at the Marion Cultural Centre on Friday night.
“We’ve all got a massive soft spot for the bush in Australia which is great... but the reality is we’re one of the most urbanised societies on the planet and most people don’t live on 20 acres. We live in the suburbs or in an urban environment.
“I wanted to write a book that celebrated all those amazing things we did on River Cottage but showed people you could have all that in your backyard right now.”
From growing produce at home, to beekeeping, or brewing beer, West says his new book has something for everyone - even those without any gardening or DIY experience.
“It’s also for someone who might be starting their gardening journey. I wanted this to be for people who live in the suburbs and have never grown a thing in their life,” he says.
Now a regular guest presenter on ABC’s Gardening Australia, West will be joined at Friday night’s event by his GA colleague Sophie Thomson.
“I was last in Adelaide for Tasting Australia. I love the city, I think it’s one of the most walkable cities in Australia and it has a fantastic food culture,” West says.
SEE: Meet the Author: In conversation with Paul West, Marion Cultural Centre, Friday 7pm
TICKETS: eventbrite.com.au