Wednesday, April 09, 2008


Cook the Books, New Zealand’s first bookstore dedicated to food writing and culinary literature turns five this month.

Co-owners Adele Fitzgerald and Jonathan Rees say the milestone is a positive sign of New Zealanders’ ever-growing devotion to good food and the success of a single-minded retail concept that satisfies that creative passion.

“Home-grown innovation in food and the outstanding talents of New Zealand food writers have produced a fantastic selection of fabulous cookbooks and food writing in recent years, says Jonathan Rees.

“Put that together with the vastly improved accessibility of international food stars through television and New Zealanders’ propensity for culinary travel, and we’ve quite simply found a winning formula for satisfying food-lovers who want to create their own magic at home.”

Five years on from opening, Adele Fitzgerald says the store’s loyal and passionate customers make the business a joy to run.

“Everybody who comes into the store loves food, or is buying for someone who loves food. We even have people who bring us samples of recipes they’ve particularly enjoyed. That’s the ultimate measure of customer experience.”

Adele says events hosting celebrity chefs and food writers have also been a hit with customers.

“This month we’re hosting an evening with Richard Till. His television show Kiwi Kitchen has been enormously popular and we’re expecting he’ll pull a big crowd on the night.”

Looking into the future, Jonathan and Adele have already begun expanding their literature selection into edible kitchen gardening.

“People are now far more interested in growing what they cook and eat for themselves. This emerging trend is being matched by a burgeoning selection of wonderful books that can help people enjoy huge satisfaction from the patch-to-plate concept.” says Adele.

To celebrate their fifth birthday this month, Cook the Books is giving away a dinner for four people at Dine by Peter Gordon, SkyCity Grand Hotel, in Auckland. More details about how to win and how to book tickets to the evening with Richard Till can be found in-store at 405 Mt Eden Road or phone (09) 638 4628.

FOOTNOTE:
Bookman Beattie offers his warmest congratulations to Adele & Jonathan on this milestone and wishes them pleasure and profitability for the next exciting five years.

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