Wisdom, Pies and a Different Gravy: Small Lessons about Life, Family and Food

By Neil Starkie

Part cookbook.

Part life manual.

Part letter from a father to his sons.

In Wisdom, Pies and a Different Gravy, Neil Starkie shares a collection of reflections drawn from everyday life - lessons learned in kitchens, on sports fields, in traffic jams, and during countless journeys with his boys.

From Don't Rush the Onions to Be the Difference, each short chapter offers practical, grounded wisdom about work, relationships, resilience, and the quiet habits that shape a life well lived.

Along the way, there are recipes, memories, music, and stories from family life - including freezing cold hockey fields, long drives across the Midlands, and the ongoing debate about the correct way to load a dishwasher.

Although written as a reflection for his sons, the lessons within these pages will feel familiar to anyone. They are simple, timeless reminders about treating people well, taking pride in small things, and making the most of the ordinary moments that matter most.

The recipes follow the same philosophy. No complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients - just simple, reliable dishes made properly, the kind of food people come back to time and time again.

At its heart, this book is about something uncomplicated:

Look after people.

Take pride in what you do.

And when life feels a bit complicated...

put the kettle on.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1764652401
• ISBN13: 9781764652407
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Wise Pies Press
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"