Cooking Recent Picks

May 2009

The title-underlined links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

Ripailles, by Stéphane Reynaud.
"Stephane Reynaud, who is chef at restaurant Villa9trois in Paris and whose previous cookbook "Pork & Sons" won the Grand Prix de la Gastronomie Francaise, writes beautiful recipes that stretch from simple home cooking to fanciful dishes. In his new book, "Ripailles" (which is French for 'Feasts'), he presents the best of the French kitchen and delves into the very roots of French cuisine. "Ripailles" is gorgeously designed and is bursting with full-colour photographs and unique and fun illustrations. More than just a cookbook - it's a treasure to keep and adore." (Amazon)

The Empire of Tea, by Alan Macfarlane & Iris Macfarlane .
"Iris MacFarlane, a tea planter's wife, lived on a tea estate in Assam, India, for 20 years, and in the first chapter of this informative story of tea, she gives a moving account of her futile attempts to better the lives of the Assamese laborers, whom the British looked down upon as "irremediably inferior" to themselves. Then she and her son Alan, who was born on the estate and is now a professor of social anthropology, delve into the history of the leaf that over thousands of years became "the world's favorite drink," emphasizing the links between tea and political, cultural, social and economic events in China, Japan, India and England, where the British obsession with that "nice cup of tea" fueled the rapid growth of the British Empire." (Amazon)

Salsa: Fine Food with Flair, by Rhys Bawden & Bill Conway.
"This beautiful cookbook with outstanding photography is from internationally trained chefs of award-winning Port Douglas Restaurant Salsa Bar & Grill. Over 50 stunning popular recipes show why their loyal customers keep coming back to this tropical paradise for cuisine. A vibrant fusion of modern flavors from around the world, Salsa's fine food tastes as delicious as it looks." (Amazon)

Divine Cupcakes: A Book of Temptation, by Tamara Jane.
"The cupcakes in this irresistible collection will inspire cupcake-lovers like never before due to the sophisticated cake design and beautifully crafted decorative details. These cupcakes may look difficult to replicate but cupcake queen Tamara Jane breaks everything down into easy-to-follow steps. This book includes a wide range of fruit-, chocolate- and nut-based recipes, gluten- and dairy-free options and even a number of larger cakes for special occasions. You'll also find helpful advice about how to make a piping bag, how to master the art of edible garnishes, and find tips for making perfect cupcakes every time." (Amazon)

Hello, Cupcake!, by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson.
"Witty, one-of-a-kind imaginative cupcake designs using candies from the local convenience store. America's favorite food photography team, responsible for the covers of America's top magazines, shows how to create funny, scary, and sophisticated masterpieces, using a zipper lock bag and common candies and snack items." (Amazon)

My Favourite Ingredients, by Skye Gyngell.
"With such a clear appreciation for gorgeous food, its easy to see why Skye Gyngell is an award-winning food writer. Her latest book makes specific ingredients the stars of her recipes, and she creates an elegant, diverse collection of dishes that reflects the seasons ... everyone from the kitchen novice to the keener cook should find something to suit their ability." (BBC Good Food Magazine, 1st September 2008)

My cousin Rosa : Rosa Mitchell's Sicilian kitchen
"When a young girl and her family move from Sicily to country Australia it is a surprisingly small step in kitchen miles. The tablecloth and stockpot are the same, cardoons and fennel still grow wild on the roadside and the extended family and neighbours gather to make salami in the barn once a year. Rosa Mitchell's food is very special: soulful, traditional, family-orientated and utterly authentic. Her thoughts on life, both Australian and Sicilian, are scattered among the recipes like biscotti crumbs. Key points: beautiful location photography brings the recipes to vibrant life; authentic Sicilian food, simply prepared and described; historical detail and fascinating family memories." (Amazon)

Gran's Kitchen : recipes from the notebooks of Dulcie May Booker, by Natalie Oldfield.
"Mouth-watering recipes from a disappearing era: at 95 years old, the lovely Dulcie May Booker shares her 76 best recipes and cooking tips in this handsome volume peppered with reminiscences and photographs of her life as dressmaker, market gardener and homemaker extraordinaire." (Beatnikpublishing.com)

Beat Heat Eat, by Dean Lahn.
"Gentlemen, take up your forks. Here are tasty recipes that any regular guy can manage if he follows the instruction-manual illustrations. Living on takeaway? BEAT.HEAT.EAT. No skill needed. If you want tricky food, go to a restaurant - that's what they're for. But if you need to make something easy at home that tastes mighty fine, this here is the deal for you. Take the fuss out of food and just beat it, heat it, and eat it." (Wakefield Press)

New Zealand Seafood Cookbook by Auckland Seafood School.
"This collection of tried and true recipes by top chefs from the Auckland Seafood School contains an array of delicious dishes that will appeal to those who grew up believing fish should be served with chips and to those who appreciate the tastes and flavours of Thai, Chinese, Moroccan, Spanish and Italian seafood cuisine." (Global Books)

The Gluten-free Cookbook by The Australian Women's Weekly.
"When you're intolerant to gluten or dairy or any other food group, cooking can be difficult and meal times are often boring. Kids' parties are a nightmare and cakes are out of the question. The Gluten-free Cookbook changes all that. It's full of truly delicious recipes that you never thought you could eat, including cakes and desserts. This book is endorsed by The Coelic Society of Australia." (Book Jacket)

Fast : 180 recipes in less than 35 minutes by The Australian Women's Weekly.
"Fast provides help with the tricky juggling act you encounter every day - work and feeding your family well. There never seems to be enough time for both. Takeaway food is fine for emergencies but you need a repertoire of good fast homemade food to keep you healthy - and here it is." (Book Jacket)

Mix : cakes, muffins, biscuits + puddings, by The Australian Women's Weekly
"Mix takes you into a world of cakes, muffins, scones, biscuits and puddings, a world where making the cake gives you almost as much pleasure as eating it. As a bonus the simple pleasur es of measuring and mixing ingredients and the aroma of cake baking in the oven are the ultimate stress beaters." (Book Jacket)

Previous Cooking Recent Picks