This book started life in 1988 as an accompaniment to the BBC2 TV series The Perfect Pickle Programme, which has subsequently been seen worldwide in countries as far apart as Slovenia and Japan. An enormous number of people have contributed and assisted us along the way: most are mentioned by name throughout the text, but we would like to thank them all unreservedly.
More recently, we would also like to tip our hats to Morven Knowles at The Daily Telegraph and Lila Das Gupta, their gardening writer, for supporting and championing the book. Finally, special thanks to Anne Dolamore and her colleagues at Grub Street Publishing for believing in the idea and giving the whole enterprise a new lease of life.
For Davilia David
actress, teacher and cook, who was in this pickle from the very beginning
Why don’t they make pickled onions square,
Why are they always round?
When I put my fork into the jar
All I get out is the vinegar.
Grab ’em, stab ’em,
They’re nowhere to be found,
Oh, why don’t they make pickled onions square,
Why are they always round?
(Pantomime song)