Life Kitchen

‘Life Kitchen is a celebration of food’ Lauren, Sunderland
‘The recipes are just really simple, really easy and delicious’ Carolyn, Newcastle
‘His book is better than a bunch of flowers because it’s going to last forever’ Gillian, Sunderland


Ryan Riley was just eighteen years old when his mum, Krista, was diagnosed with cancer. He saw first-hand the effect of her treatment but one of the most difficult things he experienced was seeing her lose her ability to enjoy food.

Two years after her diagnosis, Ryan’s mother died from her illness.

In a bid to discover whether there was a way to bring back the pleasure of food, Ryan created Life Kitchen in his mum’s memory. It offers free classes to anyone affected by cancer treatment to cook recipes that are designed specifically to overpower the dulling effect of chemotherapy on the taste buds.

In Life Kitchen, Ryan shares recipes for dishes that are quick, easy, and unbelievably delicious, whether you are going through cancer treatment or not. With ingenious combinations of ingredients, often using the fifth taste, umami, to heighten and amplify the flavours, this book is bursting with recipes that will reignite the joy of taste and flavour.

Recipes include:
Carbonara with peas & mint
Parmesan cod with salt & vinegar cucumber
Roasted harissa salmon with fennel salad
Miso white chocolate with frozen berries

With an introduction from UCL’s taste and flavour expert Professor Barry Smith, this inspiring cookbook focusses on the simple, life-enriching pleasure of eating, for everyone living with cancer and their friends and family too.

'This book is a life changer: this is not gush, but a statement of fact’ Nigella Lawson

“"This book is a life changer: this is not gush, but a statement of fact. The recipes in these pages have the power to bring pleasure back to the table for those whose tastebuds have taken a bashing in the course of cancer treatment, and it teaches new tricks and important lessons with gentleness and enthusiasm. It is also a fascinating invitation to lively flavour combinations for all of us who cherish the joy to be had at mealtimes" -- Nigella Lawson " Life Kitchen ... is a lovely idea. I totally agree when it comes to adding flavour to recipes" -- Aldo Zilli, Daily Express (Saturday Magazine) "Recipes that deliver much needed taste to palates" -- delicious "Scientifically some of the yummiest food you can whip up in your kitchen" -- Heat”

This book is a life changer: this is not gush, but a statement of fact. The recipes in these pages have the power to bring pleasure back to the table for those whose tastebuds have taken a bashing in the course of cancer treatment, and it teaches new tricks and important lessons with gentleness and enthusiasm. It is also a fascinating invitation to lively flavour combinations for all of us who cherish the joy to be had at mealtimes -- Nigella Lawson
Life Kitchen ... is a lovely idea. I totally agree when it comes to adding flavour to recipes -- Aldo Zilli Daily Express (Saturday Magazine)
Recipes that deliver much needed taste to palates delicious
Scientifically some of the yummiest food you can whip up in your kitchen Heat
There’s a real vibrancy to Ryan’s approach, his recipes and his flavour combinations – it really makes you rethink the way you cook Choice
Life Kitchen is full of recipes, layered with umami flavours that have appeals to the many cancer survivors with whom he works -- Darina Allen Irish Examiner

Ryan Riley is the founder of Life Kitchen, which immediately gained support from the public, press and ce­lebrities nationally, and he has gone on to run his signature cookery classes for people living with cancer across the country – including collaborations at River Cottage, Daylesford and the Jamie Oliver Cookery School. He is also an established food writer and stylist who has worked for print publications such as Sainsbury’s Magazine, Waitrose Food and BBC Good Food. In 2019, Ryan opened the Life Kitchen Cookery School in his home town of Sunderland. Life Kitchen is his first cookbook.

@lifekitchen / @ryanrileyy

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