Felicity Spector

'Stories of kindness, bravery and love shine from these pages' Nigel Slater'A brave, necessary account of resilience and skill and the power of bread and connection' Olia HerculesSHORTLISTED FOR THE JANE GRIGSON PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE FORTNUM & MASON FOOD AND DRINK AWARDSHow do you source, cook and take joy in food in the midst of war and los? ood is a weapon, a lifeline, a means of survival. Ukrainian food is also a powerful symbol of national identity and independence. This is a journey through mine-ridden, wrecked villages, repeatedly bombed cities, family kitchens and precarious small bakeries and cafes. Along the way news journalist and food writer Felicity Spector shares meals with soldiers, travels supply lines with volunteers and is fed incredible food by army cooks, fine bakers and home-cooking heroes. The extraordinary stories of just some of those people – refugees and restaurateurs – trying to rebuild lives and kitchens after years of bombing, shows a very Ukrainian determination to provide good food for a besieged people.

Inspirational and insightful, Bread and War is a compelling account of feeding, eating and resistance in wartime Ukraine. From the military kitchens which cook for soldiers and volunteers, to the chefs who shifted from fine dining to turning out hot meals and loaves of bread for families in need - food has become a central part of Ukraine''s war effort.Food is a weapon, a lifeline, a means of survival. It''s also a powerful symbol of national identity and memory, for the millions of people who''ve been forced from their homes.Bread and War tells the stories of just some of those people - the army cooks, the bakers, the kitchen volunteers, the charity workers, the refugees and the young chefs who repeatedly reopen cafes in the the cities after multiple bombings, determined to reclaim Ukrainian food memories after decades of Soviet suppression, driven to keep Ukraine independent in politics and culture.?