A former London chef, Mitch McCulloch has built an engaged audience across his social media channels by sharing his mission to save heirloom seeds, posting unique and informative content about his rare and unusual grows. McCulloch has turned his culinary expertise toward a quest to safeguard the rich, diverse flavours the world has to offer. He is currently exploring the globe in search of unique fruit, vegetable and flower seeds, documenting and preserving them to ensure that future generations can experience the delicious heritage and beauty of our past. Through his work, he aims to champion and protect the biodiversity of our food system, one seed at a time.
In his new book, The Seed Hunter, McCulloch showcases a variety of crops, delving into their histories as well as sharing advice on how to grow them and make the most of their incredible flavours. Examples include aromatic lemongrass and wasabi from Asia, oca and yacon from South America, colourful Italian cauliflowers and super-sweet Japanese aubergines.
Pairing McCulloch’s growing knowledge with his culinary expertise, The Seed Hunter includes guidance on preparing crops for storage and preservation, plus ideas for how to cook with them and elevate dishes at home. The book offers readers the antithesis of mass-produced hybrids and genetically modified seeds. McCulloch provides a modern take on heirloom plants that create a connection with the past, using seeds that have been passed down through generations, and have been preserved by a dedicated community of growers.
The Seed Hunter: Discover the World’s Most Unusual Heirloom Plants (DK Publishing) will be released on the 3rd of October, 2024.