Christmas at The Ritz London, with the choir singing carols in the opulent Palm Court and the Long Gallery lined with Christmas trees, is a glorious celebration of this age-old festival. This charming Edwardian-style book captures the essence of a traditional Christmas, showing how you can recreate this elegance in your own home. The innate sense of tradition, style and sophistication of The Ritz is embodied in the delightfully illustrated collection of sumptuous recipes with literary and historical descriptions of Christmas past and Christmas present. The Ritz London Book of Christmas captures all the great traditions of The Ritz London to make your Christmas an exceptional and elegant event. Over fifty delicious recipes are included for all aspects of the Christmas festivities from traditional mince pies and roast turkey with chestnut and sausagemeat stuffing to Dr Johnson's punch.

h3AS SEEN ON TVh3 h3As featured on ITV's 'Inside the Ritz' seriesh3 hr 'When you look at the dishes in this book, the photographs - it's beyond beautiful. You wouldn't need to cook a thing. You could just flick through these pages - it is a proper feast for the eyes.' - Graham Norton 'As sumptuous as Williams's exquisite cooking, this is a magnificent volume. And a fitting tribute to one of the world's great restaurants. The recipes aren't simple but this is one of those books to immerse yourself in. Five-star brilliance.' - Tom Parker Bowles, Mail on Sunday 'Less a classic cookbook than a contemporary guide to gracious living... Subdividing its contents into four seasons, each is introed with a classic cocktail, and there are contributions from The Ritz's stellar staff. But really this is Williams's show, a masterclass in munificence...' - British GQ 'A real tour de force ... Definitely the stand-out recipe book of the year for me.' - The Caterer 'John Williams's food at the Piccadilly institution is revered. Now it has brought out the cookbook so you can recreate the magic at home.' - ES Magazine 'Part technical recipe book, part memoir. There are Williams's memories of growing up in South Shields, the son of a trawlerman, who accompanied his mother on shopping trips to the butcher and developed a precocious taste for tripe and Jersey Royals. As for the recipes, certain classics are within the range of the dinner-party cook (salt-baked celeriac, for instance, or venison Wellington).' - Telegraph 'A work of art, full of recipes exactly as they are made in the Ritz kitchen, beautifully photographed by John Carey. Marvel at the sheer amount of work and skill that goes into each dish, the processes and the perfectionism - and maybe start with the recipe for scones on page 112.' - hot-dinners.com '... As an exemplar of classic and timeless dishes, it is an invaluable book that lets the reader peer behind the screen of one of the capital's most enduring institutions. For Williams' anecdote on the eating habits of the late Margaret Thatcher, it is worth the cover price alone.' - Big Hospitality 'Distinctive cookbook... This upscale offering is wholly in keeping with its subject: elegant, carefully studied, and more aspirational than practical.' - Publishers Weekly The Ritz: The Quintessential Cookbook is the first book to celebrate recipes of the dishes served today, at lunch and at dinner. The book features 100 delicious recipes, such as Roast scallops bergamot & avocado, Saddle of lamb belle époque and Grand Marnier Soufflé, and is divided into the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The recipes reflect the glorious opulence and celebratory ambience of The Ritz; seasonal dishes of fish, shellfish, meat, poultry and game. Desserts include pastries, mousses, ice creams and spectacular, perfectly-risen soufflés. There are recipes that are simple and others for the more ambitious cook, plus helpful tips to guide you at home. Along the way, John Williams shares his culinary philosophy and expertise. For any cook who has wondered how they do it at The Ritz, this book will provide the answers. There will be plenty of entertaining tales about the hotel and unique glimpses of London's finest kitchen beneath ground.

Offers breakfast recipes from one of Europe's most respected restaurants, covering simple, health-conscious meals, as well as more complex and decidedly richer ones, with a special section on beverages and marmalades

Taking tea is one of the quintessentially English occasions, and who is a greater authority on the subject than the sumptuous Ritz London Hotel? This charming Edwardian-style book captures the essence of this traditional British pastime, and provides us with all the expertise on the ceremony as well as the recipes. Stories about the legendary afternoon teas at The Ritz and fascinating details about the history of tea drinking are complemented with passages from such diverse writers as Charles Dickens to Oscar Wilde. Over fifty recipes are included for different kinds of afternoon tea specialities, from delicate sandwiches, strawberry shortcake and rose petal jam, to crumpets and muffins for hearty teas in front of a roaring fire. The author gives an infallible guide to the many blends of tea and their suitability to particular occasions. Beautifully presented and delightfully illustrated, this book is the perfect gift for tea drinkers everywhere.

A perfect Christmas gift for music lovers, Pretty Paper is Willie Nelson’s inspiring Christmas fable, based on his holiday classic “Pretty Paper.” More than fifty years ago, Willie Nelson’s beloved Christmas song “Pretty Paper” first hit the airwaves. And for all these years, Willie has wondered about the real-life Texas street vendor, selling wrappings and ribbons, who inspired his song. Who was this poor soul? What did his painful trials say about our loves, our hopes, our dreams in this holiday season—and in the rest of our lives? It’s the early sixties and Willie Nelson is down and out, barely eking out a living as a singer-songwriter. The week before Christmas, he spots a legless man on a cart, selling wares in front of Leonard’s Department Store in Fort Worth, Texas. The humble figure, by the name of Vernon Clay, piques Willie’s curiosity, but Vernon is stubbornly private and—despite Willie’s charming queries—has no interest in telling his story. Willie is tenacious, though, and he eventually learns that Vernon is a fellow musician, a fine guitarist and singer. When Vernon disappears, he leaves behind only a diary, which tells an epic tale of life-altering tragedies, broken hearts, and crooked record men, not to mention backroad honky-tonks, down-home cooking, and country songwriting genius. Deeply moved and spurred on by Vernon’s pages, Willie aims to give the man one last shot at redemption and a chance to embody the holiday spirit.

When the holidays come, there are many trivia questions answered in this book.

"This charming book from the world renowned Ritz London hotel explores the history of weddings and answers all the questions you have ever pondered about wedding traditions. Why do we have bridesmaids? Why does the bride wear a veil? Why are boots often tied to the 'going-away' vehicle? With the answers to all these and insights into the origins of the betrothal, wedding breakfast and honeymoon this is a beguiling guide to one of the most important events in our lives. Including a history of weddings at the Ritz - from the dramas and disasters to the proposals and liaisons that have taken place against its elegant backdrop, there are romantic encounters to amuse and entertain. Illustrated throughout with delightful line drawings, alongside wit and wisdom on marriage, this is an enchanting and informative look at weddings in all their glory."