Ida At My Table: A story of food, hope and how a dream became a restaurant on London’s unlikeliest road...

— —

Simonetta Wenkert

Ida At My Table

A story of food, hope and how a dream became a restaurant on London’s unlikeliest road

Simonetta Wenkert

$24.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

Bedford Square Publishers
28 October 2025

Food & society; General cookery & recipes; National & regional cuisine; Nostalgia: general

In 2007, Simonetta and her husband made the quixotic decision to open a restaurant.

Without any relevant experience IT engineer Avi and novelist Simonetta put aside their careers to throw themselves (and their three young children) into their dream.

This is the story of Ida, a tiny resilient restaurant situated on an unlovely arterial road between Kilburn and Kensal Rise, a barren thoroughfare with few shops and zero passing trade.

This is a book for anyone who has ever fantasised about painting a name over a door and creating a refuge of delight for their neighbourhood. And it's for anyone who sees the beauty in serving the food you have prepared with love for the people you love - as well as the beauty in eating it.

By: Simonetta Wenkert
Imprint: Bedford Square Publishers
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm,
ISBN: 9781835011119
ISBN 10: 183501111X
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 28 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Simonetta Wenkert was born in London in 1965 of an Italian mother and Austrian-Jewish father. She is a novelist and translator, and a mother of three grown up children. Together with her husband, she runs an Italian restaurant in Queens Park called Ida.

Reviews for Ida At My Table: A story of food, hope and how a dream became a restaurant on London’s unlikeliest road

'Captivating... It's about love and family and stoicism... and the strange alchemy of a neighbourhood restaurant' -- Rachel Cooke, Observer 'A love letter to a mother-in-law and the food heritage of a closely bonded Italian family... Reading Ida At My Table replicates the feeling of eating a gorgeous, rich bowl of ragu. You will finish it feeling full, happy and content' * Mail on Sunday *