'Stories of kindness, bravery and love shine from these pages' Nigel Slater
'A brave, necessary account of resilience and skill and the power of bread and connection' Olia Hercules
SHORTLISTED FOR THE JANE GRIGSON PRIZE
SHORTLISTED FOR THE FORTNUM & MASON FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS
––––––––––
How do you source, cook and take joy in food in the midst of war and loss?
Food is a weapon, a lifeline, a means of survival. Ukrainian food is also a powerful symbol of national identity and independence. This is a journey through mine-ridden, wrecked villages, repeatedly bombed cities, family kitchens and precarious small bakeries and cafes. Along the way news journalist and food writer Felicity Spector shares meals with soldiers, travels supply lines with volunteers and is fed incredible food by army cooks, fine bakers and home-cooking heroes.
The extraordinary stories of just some of those people – refugees and restaurateurs – trying to rebuild lives and kitchens after years of bombing, shows a very Ukrainian determination to provide good food for a besieged people.
––––––––––
PRAISE FOR BREAD AND WAR
'This is a truly inspiring book about eating, cooking, and growing food at a time of war. Full of extraordinary human stories, both of loss and fortitude, in the midst of Russia’s invasion' Jon Snow
'A wonderful book.... Spector celebrates the meals that keep Ukrainian soldiers fed, and the nation's spirit alive' Luke Harding, author of Invasion: shortlisted for the Orwell Prize and Peterson Literary Prize
'Bread and War nourishes the soul like a slice of freshly baked Ukrainian sourdough. Felicity Spector’s compelling account of her mission to bring bread to the soldiers and villagers on the desolate frontline in mobile bakeries is gently heroic and humane' Matt Frei, news editor and presenter, Channel 4 News
'Looks unflinchingly at the havoc wrought by war and the distinctive character of the people who live in its midst' Olivia Potts, Spectator
'Food is national security. Food is economy. It is employment, energy, history. Food is everything' Chef José Andrés, Founder of World Central Kitchen
A senior producer for Channel 4 News, Felicity Spector has been a television journalist for 34 years, starting her career covering the fall of the Communist bloc and the end of the old Soviet Union. She was appointed as ITN Moscow producer in 1990-91 and visited Ukraine when it declared independence. An influential Instagrammer and Substacker, she has built a following of more than 130,000 with a fascinating account that depicts her after work adventures in restaurants and home baking. Bread and War was shortlisted for the Jane Grigson Trust Award and in 2025 Felicity was given a Ukrainian Honorary Ambassador award for Culinary Diplomacy. @felicityspector
