The Blog
Cooking up a storm to get children active
The Belvoir Education & Sports Trust (BEST) is launching a recipe book with a difference to help inspire more children to get up and active and out into the countryside to play and learn.
Charity CEO and ex-professional player Darren Bicknell, known in cricket circles as Denzil, has fused his love of the game, storytelling and good food to serve up Denzil’s Dining – Tales from the Crease and the Kitchen.
The cookbook brings the tradition of the cricket after‑dinner speech to your table, with recipes inspired by every first‑class county and some of the greats of the game, from Jonathan Agnew and Alec Stewart to Graeme Swann and Courtney Walsh. Buy this book and you can enjoy everything from Mike Atherton’s Lancashire Hotpot to Devon Malcolm’s Coconut Rum Cake!
Each dish is paired with anecdotes, personalities and memories from Darren’s years as an opening batsman for Surrey and Nottinghamshire, making the book both a celebration of food and a tribute to English cricket.
All proceeds will go towards the work of BEST which reached nearly 5,400 children across its projects this year, working in schools, in the community, and bringing youngsters out to the Belvoir Estate for a unique day of sport and countryside activities.
The idea for the book came during the Covid lockdowns when Darren turned to cooking as an escape from cabin fever. His creations, shared on social media under the hashtag #denzilsdining, quickly gained a following.
The chapters mirror the game itself: For Starters read Openers; for Mains, Middle Order; for Desserts, Tailenders. And a cookbook inspired by cricket would not be complete without Tea (cakes and bakes), Bowls (one-bowl wonders), Catches (fish dishes) and Extras (snacks and sides).
Denzil’s Dining is, literally, utterly delicious. Treat yourself and someone else, support BEST and inspire local children. Signed copies are available at Melton Sports, or you can order now in time for Christmas at https://www.support-best.org/denzils-dining/