FOUR MORE STUNNING COOKBOOKS

They just keep rolling in, and not a dud among
em!
Last week’s mail delivered the following:

NIGELLA CHRISTMAS
Nigella Lawson – Chatto & Windus - $79.99

The biggest, lushest and the most expensive of the three which somehow seems appropriate for perhaps the most glamorous of all TV cooks who is sometimes fondly called the queen of food porn. Certainly the closing scenes in each episode of her TV series where she is seen in her nightwear tucking in to calory-laden sweets from her fridge do much to enhance that image and reputation.
The publishers have taken huge care over this book to ensure that when you pick it up you think immediately of Christmas. Red is the dominant colour throughout, from the stunning cover to the red text of the recipe ingredients and the often red bordered pages.
If you are seeking inspiration for special meals over the Christmas season, look no further. A must for all Nigella fans.

A PINCH OF SALT-Celebrating New Zealand Food
Paul Jobin – Harper Collins - $34.99

I feel like I know Paul Jobin and I guess that is because I see him occasionally on The Living Channel’s April in the Afternoon which I occasionally manage to catch prior to the 6.00pm television news. (Doris Mousdale of Dymock’s Booksellers is the resident book reviewer once a week and I try to catch that too), Jobin, the regular chef is an impressive, friendly guy, (comes across actually as a very nice fellow), who cooks up simple scrummy meals in a matter of minutes.
Publisher Harper Collins has now done us all a favour by bringing out this fine hardcover book with gorgeous photos by Shaun Cato-Symonds featuring throughout.
The book was reviewed by Zoe Walker in last Saturday’s New Zealand Herald and you can read that review by clicking here.

JAMIE’S MINISTRY OF FOOD
Anyone can learn to cook in 24 hours
Michael Joseph - $70

This is the book of the TV series of the same name which finished in New Zealand this week.
It has been riveting television and I reckon the man is a saint with his crusade to get the whole of Rotherham turned off take-outs and turned on to home cooking. He displays the patience of Job and what keeps him going at times is beyond me. Give this man a knighthood.

I am of course his greatest NZ fan, own all his books, (this is the ninth), cook from them regularly and often give them as gifts.
So no one will be surprised when I say that this book is another must-have from Jamie. If you can’t run to the $70 ask someone to give it to you for Christmas and if that fails race down to your local library and borrow it, you’ll probably have to put your name down on the waiting list because regardless of how many copies they have bought the number will be insufficient to meet demand.

The book is full of simply prepared dishes that look superb when made, a book for beginners, for those who have got out of the way of cooking, for those like me who cook regularly but like dishes that can be served up when prep is started less than an hour before it is time to dish up. A great gift too to give to a member of the family when they are finally leaving the nest. His step-by-step guide makes the book totally useful for every level of cooking ability.

Last night I made Jamie’s Sweet and Sour Pork – it was fresh, light and full of crunch and flavor. It took me about 20 minutes to do the prep and another 12 minutes or so to do the cooking.
Tomorrow I’m going to do his Italian Pan-Seared Tuna which looks delicious and dead simple to make.

Here are some of the chapter headings that will give you and idea of the simplicity and practical nature of the recipes, recipes I might add to suit all budgets:
Quick Pasta, Tasty stir-fries, Easy Curries, Lovin’ Salads, Simple Soups, Homely Mince, Comforting Stews, Family Roasts and so on. Brilliant.

A big fat book running to 360 pages, great photography from David Loftus and Chris Terry on every page, I am delighted to add it to my cookery book shelf alongside Jamie’s other titles.

LUCIO’S LIGURIAN KITCHEN
Lucio Galletto – Allen & Unwin - $79.99

Lucio was born and educated in Italy but while studying architecture he fell in love with a visiting Australian girl and followed her to Sydney where, to cut a long story short, they set up Lucio’s restaurant in 1981. He was born into a family of farmers and restaurateurs so it wasn’t that big a surprise and in the years since Lucio’s has become one of Australia’s most awarded Italian restaurants.
Sadly I have not yet eaten at Lucio’s but I can tell you this, if the food is even only half as superb as this wonderful book portrays, then when I do finally get there I am in for a real treat. What a stunner. Even if you didn’t plan to cook from it, and I certainly do, this book is a must for all lovers of Italian food and collectors of gorgeous books.

The book is co-written with leading Sydney journalist and broadcaster David Dale and the spectacular photos of both food and places (largely Italian evocative scenes) are in a class of their own and complement the text beautifully.
I haven’t had a chance to make anything from the book yet, (too many new cookbooks for me to keep up!), but I’m planning to try the Torta di asparagi, (Asparagus pie), this weekend while asparagus are still in season and such a good buy.
Spectacular is the right word to describe this book.

All of the above four books will all make ideal gifts for the foodie in your life so splash out on one (or two!) and make someone very happy on 25 December.