We are pleased to announce that Michael Booth's THE MEANING OF RICE (Jonathan Cape, 2017) has been shortlisted for an André Simon Food and Drink Book Award. The award aims to highlight the best of contemporary food and drink writing, and this year the food category is being independently assessed by journalist Rachel Cooke. Peter Cary (i) praised Booth's 'light touch' with 'weighty topics', as 'the comedy does not diminish the informative heft of this foodie odyssey', while Lee Langley (The Spectator) called the book 'a masterclass in Japanese cuisine'. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Goring Hotel in London on Monday 12 February.