From Fork to Fiction: Food and Drink Writers Turned Novelists

Felicity Cloake is the award-winning author of the Guardian’s long-running 'How to Make the Perfect' column and nine books, including three foodie travelogues, the Sunday Times bestseller One More Croissant for the Road, Fortnum & Mason Food Book of the Year Red Sauce Brown Sauce, and the latest, Peach Street to Lobster Lane, a cycle ride across the USA in the run-up to the 2024 election, and a love letter to its richly complicated cuisine. Her first novel, The Underdog will be published by Fourth Estate in May 2026.

As a painter she is represented by The Redfern Gallery in London. She is a member of The Guild of Food Writers, Grand Jury Member of The International Chocolate Awards, and co-author of Sex & Drugs & Sausage Rolls. Her journalism has appeared in publications including The Spectator’s Scoff, ckbk and Celebrated Living. In her fiction she explores the female experience, her mixed-race heritage, and the power of creativity. She has an MA in Creative Writing from West Dean College.

Orlando Murrin is the former editor of BBC Good Food and founder of Olive magazine. He has written six cookbooks and as a journalist, is a regular contributor to Waitrose Weekend, The Times and The Telegraph. His debut crime novel, Knife Skills for Beginners, was published by Penguin in 2024 and was shortlisted for four major awards; the sequel, Murder Below Deck, is out in paperback this summer. In 2025 he was given an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Guild of Food Writers.

Gurdeep Loyal is an award-winning food/travel writer and culinary trends expert. He is the author of Flavour Heroes: 15 Modern Pantry Ingredients to Amplify Your Cooking and was winner of the Jane Grigson Trust Award for his debut cookbook, Mother Tongue: Flavours of a Second Generation. He has over 20 years’ experience in food and drink - building his career at food institutions including Innocent Drinks, Harrods Food Halls and M&S Food. Gurdeep is a monthly columnist for Olive and Waitrose Weekend, as well as being a regular guest on BBC 1’s Saturday Kitchen. He is currently writing his debut work of fiction in which food is the central thematic motif. @gurd_loyal 

He wrote on several series of Pingu and was a scriptwriter for Charlie and Lola – winning a Golden Award of Montreux for his episode Lolaland. He also contributed to Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and wrote for Meg & Mog and Horrid Henry. In 2005 he won Wine Idol which launched him into the world of TV presenting. In 2006 he became a presenter on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen, where every other weekend he interviews celebrities, reviews cookbooks and talks about wine in his uniquely joyous and memorable style. Death by Noir is his debut novel and he’s currently at work on the second book in the Bottle Bank series.