Culinary author Alan Davidson dies, aged 79

Alan Davidson, one of the world's most knowledgeable writers on food, has died, aged 79.

Davidson, whose passion for food led him to write books on seafood and to edit the comprehensive Oxford Companion to Food, died at his home in Chelsea, London, last week. He had been in poor health for some time.

Davidson's three major works on seafood were Seafood of South East Asia, Mediterranean Seafood and North Atlantic Seafood. He also edited, with his wife, Jane, the food history journal Petits Propos Culinaires, and together they founded Prospect Books, which specialises in food titles.

Ramon Farthing, chef-proprietor of the 45-seat 36 on the Quay in Emsworth, Hampshire, was a great admirer of Davidson's works.

Farthing, who reviewed North Atlantic Seafood earlier this year (Caterer, 9 October, page 48), said: "This is a massive educational loss to our industry. Alan Davidson wrote books that were packed with information and full of anecdotes. He helped chefs like myself to get a picture of what we were learning."

Davidson is survived by Jane and their three children.