Hayden Groves' Back in the Saddle wins at Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2018

Back in the Saddle, by chef Hayden Groves, has won two awards at the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook 2018.

The book by the BaxterStorey executive chef was awarded Best in the World in both the Sports Nutrition and Charity Fundraising categories.

The 280-page book is not only a recipe book but a record of the epic Three Tours Challenge that he and a team of four amateur cyclists undertook in aid of blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia last year.

The event comprised the professional cycling tours of Giro d'Italia, Le Tour de France and Vuelta a España. Starting and finishing a day before the professionals, the team clocked up an impressive 10,473km through seven countries in 63 days and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Cure Leukaemia.

The book was designed and produced by Face Publications and published courtesy of BaxterStorey.

Speaking to The Caterer, Groves said: "I'm super proud of how it's been received and often get messages on social media of diners trying out the simple, yet authentic flavour-driven recipes or just enjoying the beautiful photography.

"Its sole reason at the outset was to raise money and awareness for the charity, now it's won two World Gourmand awards is amazing and beyond all expectations. Not bad for a lad who failed his GCSE English exam!

"Special mentions should go to the team - Anthony Hodgson's [of Face Publishing] creativity, Dave Hayward's stunning cycling images and of course Adrian Franklin's beautiful food shots. I'm just desperate to do it all again now, including the riding up the high mountains!"

Previous recipients of the award include Mark Greenaway, of the eponymous three-AA-rosette Edinburgh restaurant, who picked up the award for world's best chef cookery book at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2017, with his book Perceptions. While in 2013, two-Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains' book Too Many Chiefs, Only One Indian won best design.

The book is available via www.3tourschallenge.com/.

Book review: ‘Back in the Saddle' by Hayden Groves >>

Mark Greenaway's ‘Perceptions' named world's best chef cookery book >>

British authors win at Gourmand World Cookbook Awards >>

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