Rachel de Thample has worked in the kitchens of Marco Pierre White, Heston Blumenthal and Peter Gordon. She is the author of Less Meat, More Veg and Tonics & Teas, was Commissioning Editor of Waitrose Food Illustrated and Head of Food for the organic box scheme Abel & Cole. She has helped set up numerous local food initiatives, including the award-winning Crystal Palace Food Market and the Edible Garden, and currently runs preserving courses at River Cottage in Devon, runs seasonal Market Table pop-up dinners and writes for The Simple Things and Locavore magazines.