Book review: Petersham Nurseries, by the Boglione Family

May is a fitting month for Petersham Nurseries to publish its first book, as the UK bursts into bloom and we daydream of lunches in the garden surrounded by the joys of spring-summer.

The book follows Francesco and Gael Boglione’s 20-year journey restoring the garden centre in the grounds of Petersham House in Richmond. Since its relaunch in 2004, the nursery has developed into so much more: it houses the much-loved Petersham Nurseries Café, along with a second Central London branch in Covent Garden, both justifying their description as a “place of beauty, an emporium of goods, a celebration of the seasons”.

The 432-page book entwines recipes along with home styling advice and the occasional horticultural tip alongside the story of the Boglione family, including tales from Francesco’s travels in Afghanistan, India and Nepal, and Gael’s career as a model.

With stunning photography throughout, the beautiful tome is more suited to being a stylish coffee table centrepiece than a book to place on your kitchen shelf for fear of splashing it with cooking spills. That said, the seasonal recipes with an Italian slant would inspire any chef with a passion for British produce.

The book is divided by season, with spring featuring bruschetta with broad beans, pecorino, mint and taggiasche olives, along with pinzimonio with spring vegetables and zisola olive oil. Summer highlights heritage tomatoes al forno with garden herbs, garlic and chilli, as well as zucchini fritti and a lasagnette with green beans and pesto Genovese.

Bream carpaccio with rosemary, lemon, chilli and fennel from autumn offers a lighter alternative to traditional stews, and the pear and walnut upside-down tart sings of the changing of the seasons. In winter there are warming flavours of a chickpea and cumin dip with spiced flatbread and rhubarb and ginger ice-cream with poached rhubarb, shortbread and pistachio.

As chefs look to change their menus throughout the year, this book will be a vital source of inspiration.

Petersham Nurseries, by the Boglione Family (Petersham Nurseries, £65)