Saturday
Jo Pratt is a TV cook and best-selling author of several books, including The Nation’s Favourite Food, In the Mood for Food, In the Mood for Entertaining, The Madhouse Cookbook, In The Mood for Healthy Food and The Flexible Vegetarian. Her latest book, The Flexible Pescatarian, was published in March 2019 and has recently been awarded the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for best fish and seafood cookbook in the UK. Jo has previously been awarded a Gourmand writing award and was named one of Waterstone’s ‘Writers of the Future’ to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
Jo is also a regular contributor to magazines such as BBC Good Food and Waitrose Magazine and she often appears on TV shows such as the Sainsbury’s and Channel 4 tie-up ‘What’s Cooking?’ She is the former food editor for both Elle and Glamour Magazine and was named one of Waterstone’s ‘Writers of the Future’ in 2008, to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
When she’s not writing books, you’ll also find Jo presenting recipes online, on TV, in your favourite food magazines and on stage performing live cookery demonstrations and workshops/cookery classes.
There’s no stopping Jo – in 2014 she took on the restaurant world by collaborating with three female chefs, Sophie Michell, Gee Charman and Caroline Artiss, to launch The Gorgeous Kitchen. It’s a contemporary restaurant specialising in beautiful global cuisine made with British-grown produce at Heathrow’s Terminal 2: The Queens Terminal.
Studying Home Economics at John Moore’s University in Liverpool was where it all started. After graduating she worked with big name chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Gary Rhodes, Gordon Ramsay, and John Torode on everything from live cookery demonstrations to TV programmes.
Jo’s cooking style initially evolved from working with hugely talented restaurant chefs making the most delicious food – and translating their ideas into recipes for the everyday kitchen. She’s created a unique style and has become known for producing fail-safe, accessible and great looking recipes. They are written with her distinctive friendly and chatty manner, offering useful/practical tips and ideas along the way. The results are impressive recipes that we can all enjoy – whatever our ability, whatever the occasion.
As a result, many British and global companies choose to work with Jo as a brand ambassador or consultant on a variety of campaigns, including Flora, Jacob’s Creek, James Villa Holidays, Betty Crocker, British Potatoes, Gaggia, Leisure Cookers, Panasonic and Tilda Rice.
Jo had a passion for food from a young age. She grew up near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire – a market town often referred to as the food capital of England and famous for their delicious Pork Pies. She now lives in London with her husband Phil (aka the best fed man in London) and their two children Olly and Rosa (Jo’s harshest food critics!).