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Food for Friends: Modern vegetarian cooking at home is by Jane and Ramin Mostowfi

Brighton is home to many celebrities and famous people; and one of the most popular restaurants in the famous part of the city known as The Lanes is the famous vegetarian restaurant, Food For Friends, owned by husband and wife team, Jane and Ramin Mostowfi.

Spending 12 years of my life only eating fish and vegetarian food, with a partner whose only meat of choice was the occasional chicken dish, it was right for us to raise our two boys with similar eating habits.  Today, through their own choice the eldest (14) continues to eat fish and vegetarian food while the 12 year old is now a strict vegetarian erring towards becoming vegan. Over the past two decades, witnessing mad cow disease, an increase in dietary issues with friends and family alike, and the increase in the rate of heart attacks and obesity, it is no wonder that vegetarianism and vegetarian food continues to increase in popularity as a healthy alternative lifestyle choice. But there is a difference between replacing meat dishes with meat-free alternatives and innovative vegetarian dishes that make no pretence at being served in the style of, or as a meat-style dish.

Almost six years ago to the day, Ramin and Jane Mostowfi decided to leave their corporate London careers and move to Brighton to become the new owners of Food for Friends.  It has since become well known for its contemporary dishes that have erred away from the idea that vegetarianism has to be associated with hippies, Greenpeace and Tofu; and has become a renowned vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Brighton on the East Sussex coast.  Food for Friends restaurant has spent nearly thirty years garnering acclaim in the South East and beyond. But the food they serve is so delicious that apparently 70% of their repeat diners do not consider themselves to vegetarian.

If I’m being honest, I choose to eat meat-free alternatives to sausages, chicken and burgers and am happy to do so but as I like very tasty, spicy food I have found that dishes in vegetarian restaurants can be bland and pretty much tasteless; an accusation that is frequently aimed at vegetarian food in general, so I was very keen to see the new book of recipes based on the Food For Friends restaurant’s seasonal menus and daily specials.

Food for Friends: Modern vegetarian cooking at home is a very inspiring cookbook beautifully illustrated with 118 colour photographs and includes some delicious sounding recipes offering a wide range of vegetarian dishes.

‘This is a collection of our customers’ favourite recipes focused around the fusion of really good flavours, simple understated cooking that delights’
- Jane and  Ramin Mostowfi

Bringing together an innovative and refreshing approach to both everyday and occasion dining, Food for Friends: Modern vegetarian cooking at home will be a perfect addition to any cookbook shelf. Included are some of the restaurant’s most loved recipes and signature dishes fully adapted for the home. Ideal for cooking meals that are meat-free or that cater for special dietary requirements such as diary-free or gluten-free diets.

Food for Friends: Modern vegetarian cooking at home is by Jane and Ramin Mostowfi with help from their head chef, Kalil Resende and is available now as a hardback priced £16.99.