How to Make Bread wins Best First Book at the GFW Awards

On a balmy Wednesday night, a nervous team from RPS arrived at the glorious Fishmongers' Hall overlooking the Thames to attend The Guild of Food Writers Awards. We weren’t the only ones looking apprehensively around the room and reaching for a calming glass of perfectly chilled rosé – shortlisted candidates for these coveted awards included Yotam Ottolenghi, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Diana Henry, Tracey McLeod, Sheila Dillon and many more. We were there to support, cheer and cross fingers for our author Emmanuel Hadjiandreou, whose book How to Make Bread was shortlisted for the Jeremy Round Award for Best First Book. Emmanuel seemed calm and collected while the rest of us became increasingly twitchy as the winners were announced and we awaited our particular category. 

 

Emmanuel Hajiandreou 

When the moment came and Emmanuel was announced the winner, we whooped – we had beaten Lucas Hollweg, cookery journalist for The Sunday Times, and Bryn Williams, star of the BBC’s Great British Menu and head chef of Odette’s in London. Emmanuel teaches bread classes and bakes award-winning bread. His book is a testament to his passion for teaching and creating simply beautiful bread and we were all thrilled that the judges recognised his talent. His speech was short and sweet – he thanked his wife, everyone at RPS and particularly Steve Painter for doing an exceptional job photographing and designing the book. Emmanuel’s trophy is an elegant vase engraved with his award and name which he insists will be displayed high up and under lock and key – so as to stop his young, inquisitive son Noah from using it as a football… We all went home fizzing with pride and excitement and full of hopes for future award-winning books. Watch this space.

Céline Hughes, Commissioning Editor, How to Make Bread

How to Make Bread by Emmanuel Hadjiandreou, 

Ryland Peters & Small, photography by Steve Painter