Quick review: Out of my Tree by Daniel Clifford of Midsummer House

This weighty tome stretches to 416 pages – surely making it one of the biggest cookery books of recent times.

It contains recipes and pictures of stunning dishes – many of which look almost impossible to duplicate. They show the evolution of the restaurant and Daniel’s drive to deliver extraordinary dishes of the highest order.

The thing that really sets this book apart, however, is Daniel’s honest critique of himself and his personal journey – which is inseparably linked with Cambridge’s two-Michelin-starred Midsummer House.

Chronicling his 25 years in the hospitality industry – through battles with staff, floods and failed relationships – this book lays bare the industry. But more than that, it provides a window into one man’s obsession to reach the top.

There are no easy paths in life but that is the fun of it all. It’s the trials and tribulations that make us what we are – and which makes success when it finally comes all the sweeter!

Out of my Tree by Daniel Clifford is published by Meze Publishing. You can order it here.

The author:

Philip lives in West Cambridgeshire in the Parish of Catworth with his wife. He loves eating out which he does for both pleasure and business. His other interests are collecting cookery books and menus, driving his tractor and working on the renovation of their old farm.