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Relish
Prue Leith describes herself as greedy in all senses of the word. Cook, caterer, restaurateur, food writer, journalist, novelist, businesswoman, teacher, television presenter, charity worker, lover, wife and mother, she has certainly been greedy for life. Born in South Africa, the daughter of a well-known actress, Prue came to London in the early 1960s, set up a successful catering company, and later opened Leith's Restaurant, a food lovers' oasis in London's then gastronomic desert. By the mid-seventies she was a regular food columnist on the Daily Mail, had published several cookbooks and opened Leith's School of Food and Wine.
But it wasn't all work. For thirteen years she had a secret affair with the married man who was to be her husband for another twenty-five years. She writes movingly of the anguish for both families; of her longing for children; the birth of her son, Daniel, and the adoption of her daughter, Li-Da.
Prue writes with relish, humour and honesty. Whether she is running her own businesses or sitting on the boards of public companies; founding charities or leading institutions, her down-to-earth attitude to triumph and disaster is an inspiration. She is forthright about her love life; her mother's senility; her husband's smoking himself to death; the theft of her savings, and falling in love at sixty-six with a manic-depressive. Above all, Relish reflects one lucky woman's incredible zest for life.
But it wasn't all work. For thirteen years she had a secret affair with the married man who was to be her husband for another twenty-five years. She writes movingly of the anguish for both families; of her longing for children; the birth of her son, Daniel, and the adoption of her daughter, Li-Da.
Prue writes with relish, humour and honesty. Whether she is running her own businesses or sitting on the boards of public companies; founding charities or leading institutions, her down-to-earth attitude to triumph and disaster is an inspiration. She is forthright about her love life; her mother's senility; her husband's smoking himself to death; the theft of her savings, and falling in love at sixty-six with a manic-depressive. Above all, Relish reflects one lucky woman's incredible zest for life.
560 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 20, 2015
Five stars. I don’t believe it… My bedtime reading is meant to be cheerful tosh before I drift off into the land of Nod. But Prue Leith’s auto biog was different.
What a gal! She is an outrageous woman who has led quite an anarchic life, but also a good life. She is intensely readable, and I couldn’t help liking her, in spite of sometimes tut-tutting at her at her more wanton behaviours. She is such a gutsy woman, who has achieved many great things, and she's a woman with a big heart.
One of her most attractive traits is her huge capacity for pleasure. All we can do is hang onto her coat tails as she gallops from one enterprise to the next. She is obviously remarkably able – in all sorts of businesses and charitable initiatives, as well as in her cookery exploits.
Every bit of the book is interesting….. from her childhood in South Africa and early family life, to her struggles as a young chef and then successful restaurant owner (and boy did she have some spectacular on-the-edge-of-your-seats cooking crises). From there she goes on to describe her life in business, which I found equally fascinating. She's an incredibly able businesswoman, and although she glosses over her successes, you can see that she shines as an entrepreneur. Most of all, I enjoyed hearing about her extraordinary relationships with the two big loves of her life, (and seeing her intense loyalty towards both of these men in spite of massive challenges). I also enjoyed reading about her wonderful relationship with her children.
Throughout the book she is both funny and charmingly self-deprecating. I had lots of laugh out loud moments reading this book, and in spite of her innumerable conquests in all sorts of fields, she could not be less big-headed or complaisant. She is also astonishingly honest. You get the good the bad and the ugly.
Another marvellous trait - in my eyes - is her intense practicality. She prefers the challenge of cooking for hundreds of people to the finesse of producing perfection for the few, and when foxes keep digging up the front lawn of her London house, she simply puts down Astroturf. She is also never frightened to roll up her sleeves and do dirty work where necessary.
Warning: this is NOT a book for foodies. If your idea of bliss is going to bed with a superb recipe book then Prue Leith is not the woman for you. She is so much bigger than her cooking (and I say that in a good way).
A darn good read.
Prue Leith 2011. Pic by Steve Chilton.
What a gal! She is an outrageous woman who has led quite an anarchic life, but also a good life. She is intensely readable, and I couldn’t help liking her, in spite of sometimes tut-tutting at her at her more wanton behaviours. She is such a gutsy woman, who has achieved many great things, and she's a woman with a big heart.
One of her most attractive traits is her huge capacity for pleasure. All we can do is hang onto her coat tails as she gallops from one enterprise to the next. She is obviously remarkably able – in all sorts of businesses and charitable initiatives, as well as in her cookery exploits.
Every bit of the book is interesting….. from her childhood in South Africa and early family life, to her struggles as a young chef and then successful restaurant owner (and boy did she have some spectacular on-the-edge-of-your-seats cooking crises). From there she goes on to describe her life in business, which I found equally fascinating. She's an incredibly able businesswoman, and although she glosses over her successes, you can see that she shines as an entrepreneur. Most of all, I enjoyed hearing about her extraordinary relationships with the two big loves of her life, (and seeing her intense loyalty towards both of these men in spite of massive challenges). I also enjoyed reading about her wonderful relationship with her children.
Throughout the book she is both funny and charmingly self-deprecating. I had lots of laugh out loud moments reading this book, and in spite of her innumerable conquests in all sorts of fields, she could not be less big-headed or complaisant. She is also astonishingly honest. You get the good the bad and the ugly.
Another marvellous trait - in my eyes - is her intense practicality. She prefers the challenge of cooking for hundreds of people to the finesse of producing perfection for the few, and when foxes keep digging up the front lawn of her London house, she simply puts down Astroturf. She is also never frightened to roll up her sleeves and do dirty work where necessary.
Warning: this is NOT a book for foodies. If your idea of bliss is going to bed with a superb recipe book then Prue Leith is not the woman for you. She is so much bigger than her cooking (and I say that in a good way).
A darn good read.
Prue Leith 2011. Pic by Steve Chilton.
May 20, 2012
I have just finished reading Prue Leith's lively autobiography and I enjoyed it very much. I am not particularly interested in cookery, but I have fond memories of seeing Prue Leith's mother, the brilliant South African actress, Margaret Inglis in "Separate Tables" when my family and I were on holiday in Durban in 1957.
Prue Leith is four years older than me and grew up in South Africa so we shared similar childhood experiences. I found the account of her early years in South Africa, and later years in France and the UK fascinating. With most autobiographies and biographies, the years of struggle are usually far more interesting than the years of success, as the successful years often amount to no more than a brag-list of achievements and awards.
Although Prue Leith discussed her many achievements, her story held my interest to the end of the book, as her personality and humanity shine through in her writing. Despite success, fame and riches, Prue suffered her fair share of setbacks and she does not skim over the setbacks as others embarking on writing the story of their lives might have done.
Not only did Prue succeed as a cook and caterer, but she has published a number of novels in the later part of her life. I have only read one of them but intend to read the others in due course.
Prue Leith is four years older than me and grew up in South Africa so we shared similar childhood experiences. I found the account of her early years in South Africa, and later years in France and the UK fascinating. With most autobiographies and biographies, the years of struggle are usually far more interesting than the years of success, as the successful years often amount to no more than a brag-list of achievements and awards.
Although Prue Leith discussed her many achievements, her story held my interest to the end of the book, as her personality and humanity shine through in her writing. Despite success, fame and riches, Prue suffered her fair share of setbacks and she does not skim over the setbacks as others embarking on writing the story of their lives might have done.
Not only did Prue succeed as a cook and caterer, but she has published a number of novels in the later part of her life. I have only read one of them but intend to read the others in due course.
June 7, 2014
A very interesting look at a very talented womans life. I knew nothing about Prue Leith before reading this apart from that she was known for cooking and had written some fiction.
I enjoyed learning just how much depth this lady had to her life, from her childhood in South Africa, to the Leiths Cookery school, restaurants to the brilliant contracts won etc...
Really enjoyable read.
I enjoyed learning just how much depth this lady had to her life, from her childhood in South Africa, to the Leiths Cookery school, restaurants to the brilliant contracts won etc...
Really enjoyable read.
March 6, 2018
Really enjoyed this, an adventurous life well lived!
October 3, 2025
5 stars for sheer readability. I found myself staying up late to read "just one more chapter," which may have ended up being three. I do love a good, honest autobiography and this was one. I can't say I was impressed with the author's morality but otherwise she deserves much credit. She's lived an amazing, blessed life (blessed, whether she acknowledges God's goodness or not) and this makes her story rather fascinating. I expected more about her love
of food (other than, 'I wanted to be a cook'), but in the end, there was enough of the ups and downs, close calls, near disasters, royal encounters and more, to keep the pages turning. She's lived a life of enormous energy and enterprise and done much good.
My interest in Ms. Leith began from watching The Great British Bake-Off. She is a delight on the show, and unlike the rest of the regulars, doesn't indulge in kindergarten humor (which, sadly, has lowered the caliber of the show.) I often wished the camera would stay on her fabulous stylish self longer, on others less. She came across as bold, confident and yet unpretentious.
Her book confirms that she is bold and confident, talented and fortunate --those blessings again. I wish all the best with her remaining time on this planet. And I pray she'll stop "trying to believe" in God and just accept that He IS.
of food (other than, 'I wanted to be a cook'), but in the end, there was enough of the ups and downs, close calls, near disasters, royal encounters and more, to keep the pages turning. She's lived a life of enormous energy and enterprise and done much good.
My interest in Ms. Leith began from watching The Great British Bake-Off. She is a delight on the show, and unlike the rest of the regulars, doesn't indulge in kindergarten humor (which, sadly, has lowered the caliber of the show.) I often wished the camera would stay on her fabulous stylish self longer, on others less. She came across as bold, confident and yet unpretentious.
Her book confirms that she is bold and confident, talented and fortunate --those blessings again. I wish all the best with her remaining time on this planet. And I pray she'll stop "trying to believe" in God and just accept that He IS.
January 9, 2022
I became interested in Prue Leith as a fan of the Great British Baking Show on which she's been a judge for much of it. She comes across on that show as an interesting, colourful woman with great expertise in food. This memoir however deals with her life prior to her involvement with that program, so in that sense it was a bit of a disappointment. Perhaps I was hoping she'd dish the dirt on her co-judge, the exaggeratedly MCP Paul Hollywood! However it was still an engaging read about a woman with a great zest for life who seems to have excelled in all the diverse fields she's thrown herself into with great vigour. Those parts of the book focusing on her business and board involvements became too much like a CV for me, and particularly not interesting as I knew nothing about the many names she drops throughout. Her personal life, which has been colourful to say the least, was far more intriguing.
April 9, 2024
I read this mainly in a hot tub on my Easter break.
I studied Pru, Elizabeth David, Mary Berry and Delia Smith in my teans. I loved cooking, but sadly did not grow up in a home cooking enviroment. My mother would "watch" cooks on TV but that was the end of that.
Wow what life Pru Leith has led so far, from her fascinating accounts of South Africa amd life as a cook, entroprenaur, being in the right place at the right time, knowing some great people and having a wonderful family - wish my mother had taken a leap in faith- this shows that you need to take the bull by the horn as life is super short.
Would have love to have studied at Leiths School as this was cutting edge at the time.
I have to confess to never watching a single episode of Bake off and this book has not prompted me to.
A great read and recomended and will seeking out Pru Leiths non fiction for my next break.
I studied Pru, Elizabeth David, Mary Berry and Delia Smith in my teans. I loved cooking, but sadly did not grow up in a home cooking enviroment. My mother would "watch" cooks on TV but that was the end of that.
Wow what life Pru Leith has led so far, from her fascinating accounts of South Africa amd life as a cook, entroprenaur, being in the right place at the right time, knowing some great people and having a wonderful family - wish my mother had taken a leap in faith- this shows that you need to take the bull by the horn as life is super short.
Would have love to have studied at Leiths School as this was cutting edge at the time.
I have to confess to never watching a single episode of Bake off and this book has not prompted me to.
A great read and recomended and will seeking out Pru Leiths non fiction for my next break.
December 4, 2020
Wow, Prue Leith has certainly lived life to the full and the telling of her exploits kept me amused for awhile. I loved reading about her sexual encounters and how she set about making a huge pile of money. I did find her accounts of her business ventures, board meetings and name dropping somewhat tedious so I skipped these pages , I also didn’t bother to read her waxing lyrical about getting a dog .I do think ,however , that as a storyteller it’s best to take what she says with a massive pinch of salt. There’s a lot I had difficulty believing , I suspect more exaggeration than pure fantasy. That said she’s a lovely warm generous person and this clearly comes across even if she sometimes seems to be on another planet.
June 26, 2020
To think of Prue Leith as a presenter of GBBO is to vastly underestimate her accomplishments in cooking, business, charity and food policy as well as her rich personal life. She doesn’t minimise unpalatable truths and is candid in her opinions and her assessment of her own shortcomings. At the end of her Acknowledgements she writes, ‘I have been lucky in many things, but more in the company I have kept than anything’. She prefers a polite debate to a shouting match to settle disagreements. Her sense of humour radiates throughout the book. More than anything, if I had a fraction of this woman’s verve I would consider myself formidable.
February 25, 2025
Not sure I'll finish this. The first 3/4 or so are funny and engaging, but the last 1/4 is just everybody in her life suffering and then dying. Or some of them not dying. But it's hard to read about somebody you don't know in misery. Nothing she says about the NHS is good; it seems much worst than US medicine--and THAT IS REALLY SAYING SOMETHING.
Well, I did finish it, and it was just that one beleaguered chapter, I guess, which isn't so bad for an entire life not even yet finished. It's mostly very entertaining.
Well, I did finish it, and it was just that one beleaguered chapter, I guess, which isn't so bad for an entire life not even yet finished. It's mostly very entertaining.
February 8, 2020
Prue Leith’s zest for life shines through the pages of this autobiography. Leith is one of the current judges on “The Great British Baking Show,” and has had a long and storied career in the food industry in both South Africa (her original home) and England. She writes frankly and humorously about her successes and failures, professional and personal. A fun read, especially if you enjoy cooking and people with larger-than-life personalities.
July 7, 2018
This biography was very inspiring as Prue Leith seems so approachable and real. Her life has been amazing, worked hard, met people, and she loves those great little things in life. I read this at the perfect time in my life, where I needed to be reminded that hard work and passion takes you places, but that we have to remain optimistic, honest and, above all, love life.
November 1, 2022
Brilliant!
Loved this book I could not put it down. Obviously everyone loves Prue from Bake off but I did not know what an amazing life she has had so far. This is a warts and all account of the ups and downs of her life in a very modest and self deprecating way. Very interesting & funny
Loved this book I could not put it down. Obviously everyone loves Prue from Bake off but I did not know what an amazing life she has had so far. This is a warts and all account of the ups and downs of her life in a very modest and self deprecating way. Very interesting & funny
March 12, 2023
I first became aware of Pru Leith on the great British menu and then bake off, she always comes across as a warm, funny but posh lady, this book tells her life in her own words in much the same way! I can hear her voice narrating the stories. I did laugh, I cried and I felt the warmth of her love affairs. It was a nice read.
January 5, 2019
I ordered it from my library during the GBBO as I thought it was her cookbook! Really interesting life she has led, she is a great woman and I like her even more now! I was hooked the whole way through.
April 11, 2019
Not a fan of biography but this is such a good read. It’s advertised as “The searingly honest life story....” and it is indeed and all the better for it. I’ve seen that Prue Leith has now written some novels so I shall look out for them .
June 27, 2019
Interesting read I enjoy a life story
July 5, 2019
Want a to read more
Well given 5 who knew the way back ground to this women what a great life great read recommend it
Well given 5 who knew the way back ground to this women what a great life great read recommend it
October 18, 2021
Very interesting, I learnt a lot about Prue Leith.
July 21, 2022
Perhaps not the best-written autobiography but still a rollicking read and shows what great fun Prue Leith is.
July 9, 2023
Published in 2012 this now has a few years to catch up on Prue's life. There were certain aspects that completely threw me regarding her working life, but she's certainly been a busy lady!
September 28, 2024
Fascinating
A fascinating story of Prue Leith's life and career, beautifully written. I am in awe of her energy, achievements and strength. What a remarkable lady.
A fascinating story of Prue Leith's life and career, beautifully written. I am in awe of her energy, achievements and strength. What a remarkable lady.
May 30, 2025
Entertaining
Enjoyable story of Prue Leith's life so far. A well written account of a life lived entirely on her own terms.
Enjoyable story of Prue Leith's life so far. A well written account of a life lived entirely on her own terms.
December 4, 2025
Never knew Prue was such a baddie 😍
April 12, 2013
This autobiography and memoir is a difficult one to review particularly because at times I found myself liking and disliking it in varying measures. Notice I didn’t say loving and loathing it here – it’s very much middle ground hence the three star rating.
No question though that Prue Leith can write well. Her natural storytelling of her own life pulls no punches and harks of a life lived with particular passion, gusto and ‘relish’ – hence the title. I particularly liked hearing about her childhood in South Africa and of her unique take on relationships with people. In this atmosphere she seems gregarious, genuine and caring. Above all though she is honest, particularly when explaining her life with Rayne, her husband and life partner. Without giving it away, the circumstances are a little unusual here and I admire her character in sticking to her choices. The chapter about his death made me cry with some emotion and I had to put the book down for a while.
On the flip side, I found that some chapters were over-explained going into too much of the nitty-gritty in business dealings. For me, some of this stopped the flow of what is a good autobiography and I found myself treading though some chapters a bit too dutifully whilst awaiting the next more fulfilling instalment.
In terms of appeal, I think this book would be a good read for any lover of autobiography regardless of their secondary interests. Put bluntly, you don’t just have to be a lover of good food and business to enjoy this. Prue Leith is indeed the main attraction and she does seem something of a ‘one-off’ with a life lived very much on her own terms and in a quite unconventional way. It’s a really pleasant experience to read an autobiography or memoir when you feel the subject of it has had such a frank and personal input into the workings of it rather than rely on a secondary or co-writer to communicate for her. The emotions here are Leith’s herself who has pretty much put herself onto a plate to be consumed and digested. As a writer herself, she is five star.
Relish it then? Yes I did and would have relished it more if some of the business details had not be so overcooked and fleshy in places.
No question though that Prue Leith can write well. Her natural storytelling of her own life pulls no punches and harks of a life lived with particular passion, gusto and ‘relish’ – hence the title. I particularly liked hearing about her childhood in South Africa and of her unique take on relationships with people. In this atmosphere she seems gregarious, genuine and caring. Above all though she is honest, particularly when explaining her life with Rayne, her husband and life partner. Without giving it away, the circumstances are a little unusual here and I admire her character in sticking to her choices. The chapter about his death made me cry with some emotion and I had to put the book down for a while.
On the flip side, I found that some chapters were over-explained going into too much of the nitty-gritty in business dealings. For me, some of this stopped the flow of what is a good autobiography and I found myself treading though some chapters a bit too dutifully whilst awaiting the next more fulfilling instalment.
In terms of appeal, I think this book would be a good read for any lover of autobiography regardless of their secondary interests. Put bluntly, you don’t just have to be a lover of good food and business to enjoy this. Prue Leith is indeed the main attraction and she does seem something of a ‘one-off’ with a life lived very much on her own terms and in a quite unconventional way. It’s a really pleasant experience to read an autobiography or memoir when you feel the subject of it has had such a frank and personal input into the workings of it rather than rely on a secondary or co-writer to communicate for her. The emotions here are Leith’s herself who has pretty much put herself onto a plate to be consumed and digested. As a writer herself, she is five star.
Relish it then? Yes I did and would have relished it more if some of the business details had not be so overcooked and fleshy in places.
December 27, 2016
Thoroughly entertaining! I admire Prue Leith's huge energy, lust for life, work ethic and achievements. What a life she has led, and how well she relates it here. The many outrageous bits are balanced by her charm, resilience, honesty and uncompromising belief that food should be about top quality and minimum frills - rather like her straight-talking writing and management style. There is an upfront balance in relating the ups as well as the downs, and some of both her culinary and relational risks and disasters. Especially later in her life, family, charitable causes and non-executive work became more important - something I could relate to and found interesting. This read was also an opportunity to feel proudly South African, given that my daughter-in-law is currently studying at the PL Academy.
June 2, 2012
A frankly-told and honest account of her life, her loves, and her career - all the ups as well as the downs, described with her well-known forthright manner. She's not afraid of being self-critical, and makes no bones about the long-standing affair she had which ended happily with her marriage to her lover after many years of keeping the secret. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and feel a new-found respect for good old Prue after reading it!
June 3, 2012
Much better than I thought it would be. It did drag a bit in the last half when she rambled on and on about all the committees she was on, but I also cried twice when reading this, so it wasn't without emotional parts. I really only knew her from being a judge on GBM, so it was nice to have some background.
November 5, 2013
I read this book twice through and got much more out of it the 2nd time. Prue is a larger than life character - would love to have her to dinner.
As one of my friends said, she looks a prude, but boy is she naughty.
I like the touch of South Africa - places I know - and totally admire her make it happen abilities when things are going wrong in the kitchen
As one of my friends said, she looks a prude, but boy is she naughty.
I like the touch of South Africa - places I know - and totally admire her make it happen abilities when things are going wrong in the kitchen
February 9, 2013
A very interesting autobiography. Prue has had a life full of successes, but has not avoided sadness and difficulty. She is a bubbly storyteller, very amusing and honest; she does not paint herself as being any kind of angel. Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews