Hello friends

First, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the 2.5 million of you who have watched the cookery programme, and for the many messages sent via my website and Twitter.

Everything was right - well ... almost! The team, led by Emily and Stewart, really know their respective businesses ... food and the interaction of the sound, the sweeping and precise movements of the camera creating the small dramas, empowering the food, revealing both its inner and outer beauty.

This programme was not about the celebration of a celebrity chef's status, nor was it about undermining a defenceless commis or even taking on the mighty (and gentle), occasionally grumpy Adam (many had predicted my own demise, violent of course, before the end of the series!)... none of that: I wanted to initiate a simple conversation about food, discover its origins, look at interesting techniques, rediscover treasures from our own regions, find out how we can become more knowledgeable and selective... but mostly just enjoy the whole process of cooking and eating together, tout simplement.

Many of you have asked me if there will be another programme, yes it will happen, when I can walk and cook! Yes, I am writing a book about RB's Kitchen Secrets ...and delightful too, I hope it will be!
 
Meanwhile, Monday evening will be the last programme. We will celebrate tomatoes, pomodori or pommes d'amour, as we look forward to the coming summer when this wonderful fruit will be at its best. It is the last and my favourite: within it, one of my favorite recipes, "Essence de Tomate". It will demonstrate that gastronomy can come from the most simple dish right up to the most complicated.

Now that the series is at an end, please do send me any questions you have about anything in the programmes: we will put up a Questions & Answers page on the website, where I will try and give answers to everything from kitchen techniques to where I buy my reading glasses!

Later this week, I am off to my native region of France - Franche-Comté - to see my family and then to the south to find sun, warmth and light...

Prepare yourselves for a real tomato experience!

Bon appetit

Raymond

PS Please tell me what you think of my blogs and my website: I want to hear from you! Contact me via the website or tweet to me at Twitter.