Shirley Booth

I lived in Japan for several years. I have over twenty years experience writing about, demonstrating and consulting on Japanese food and culture. I founded the British Sake Association to further understanding of Japanese sake in the UK and to encourage people to drink it with non-Japanese cuisine. I have produced and directed numerous TV programmes on food and drink and traditonal food cultures. I am the author of the award-winning book Food of Japan (Grub Street), and have contributed to numerous books and publications, as well as appearing on TV and radio.

Professions

Author, Broadcaster, Consultant, Cookery demonstrator, Cookery teacher, Editor/editorial work, Feature writer, Food and travel writer, Other, Recipe writer, Restaurant reviewer, Wine/drinks writer

Special subjects

Japanese food and culture; Zen vegetarian cuisine; Japanese sake; traditional food cultures and food production (especially miso, kimchee etc)

Regular work

Events organising and sake selection for the British sake Association; monthly food and recipe column for my local magazine in Dorset (Eggardon and Colmers View); committee member of the Bridport Food Festival Group; I regularly interview well-known food writers as part of the Bridport Literary Festival, and I am an experienced speaker at events and symposia

Advisory boards / Awards

I was the first UK recipient of the Japanese Agriculture Minister's Award for Overseas' Promotion of Japanese Food (2006); Food of Japan awarded a Japan Festival Prize (2000) and short-listed for the Guild of Food Writers' Jeremy Round Award (2000); my feature length documentary, Japan:Food For The Spirit awarded a Jury Special Prize (1987 Asahi Films Competition)