News

Food has always been central to the story of Red Carnation Hotels, and now the luxury hotel collection is inviting readers to bring a taste of its heritage into their own homes with A Life in Food: From Our Family Table to Yours.

Created by Vicki and Brett Tollman, the cookbook pays tribute to their parents, Beatrice and Stanley Tollman, whose shared passion for food, travel and generous hospitality helped shape the family’s approach to luxury hospitality.

More than a collection of recipes, A Life in Food brings together cherished family favourites, much-loved signature dishes from Red Carnation Hotels around the world, and the stories behind the meals that have become part of the collection’s culinary heritage.

From the family table to the hotel dining room

Inspired by the Tollman family’s love of gathering around the table, the book traces how recipes discovered during travels, refined in family kitchens and shared with friends eventually found their way onto hotel menus.

From the United Kingdom and Ireland to Geneva and South Africa, these dishes have become associated with memorable stays, special occasions and the pleasure of returning to a favourite table. Today, Red Carnation’s executive chefs and their teams continue to prepare many of them, preserving the traditions while bringing their own expertise to the dining experience.

For guests who have discovered a favourite dish during their travels, the cookbook offers an opportunity to explore its story and recreate it at home. For others, it provides a culinary introduction to the people, places and traditions behind the collection’s dining experiences.

The result is a celebration of food as both a personal and shared experience, where recipes carry memories across generations and a memorable meal can live on long after a journey has ended.

A legacy that looks to the future

The cookbook also reflects a commitment to the next generation of culinary talent. Proceeds from sales will support the Red Carnation Chef Fund, which invests in the development of emerging chefs across the hotel collection.

In doing so, A Life in Food connects the Tollman family’s enduring passion for hospitality with the people who will shape its future, helping to nurture the skills and creativity behind the dining experiences for which the hotels are known.

Priced at £30, A Life in Food: From Our Family Table to Yours is available to order through Red Carnation Hotels. Prospective buyers can complete the order enquiry form on the group’s website, after which the team will be in touch to discuss their order.

Ultimately, the book celebrates a simple but enduring philosophy: that the best food is about more than what is served. It is about the people gathered around the table, the stories exchanged and the memories created along the way.