Interesting, varied bunch of non-fiction titles
Among the books to hit my mailbox since returning from holiday were these:

coffee & bites – SusieTheodorou
Well Seasoned – Gillian Flower
A Driving Guide to Scenic New Zealand
In Our Time – Hywel Williams



coffee & bites – Susie Theodorou – Murdoch Books – NZ$35

First published in 2001 this revised and expanded edition is a mouth watering look at coffee and what we like to eat with it.
The first part of the book deals with coffee – beans, roasting, grinding, brewing methods, espresso shots and hot milk options – before well known food writer Susie Theodorou introduces us to a range of treats, both sweet and savoury, complete with recipes complimented by superb photography by Clive Streeter.

Well Seasoned – Gillian Flower – Spiced Lemon – NZ$49.99

Sub-titled, Adventures of a Travelling Cook, this is Gillian Flowers story from growing up in rural New Zealand, through culinary adventures around the world, being a Royal chef, to Paddington, Sydney where she now lives and runs her catering firm Spiced Lemon.

Profusely illustrated, entertainingly written and all wrapped up in a most attractive volume this is a memoir for all foodies. Loads of recipes too. I found the chapter on her time as chef to the Duke of York especially interesting.
The Editor and project manager for the book was Renee Lang of Renaissance Publishing in Auckland to whom NZ trade enquiries can be made or visit the author’s website:
http://www.spicedlemon.com/

A Driving Guide to Scenic New Zealand
Maps by Geogrphax,
text by Dave Chouhury and Simon Henshaw
Craig Potton - $34.99

I haven’t used this innovative driving guide out on the road yet although I have spent several hours over this past weekend marveling at the 3D mapping technology employed and planning all sorts of New Zealand holidays for the years ahead.
Each map details distances and driving times along with locations of toilets, petrol stations and most importantly the places for best coffee. And tucked into a sleeve on the back nsde cover are separate large-scale maps of both islands. Most impressive, my copy is now in the car awaiting the next trip.

In Our Time
The speeches that shaped the modern world
Hywel Williams – Quercus –NZ$39.99

This is a collection of interesting, eloquent, frequently inspiring and influential speeches all made since the end of Word War Two. Almost all are from significant political leaders – think Churchill, Nehru, Ben-Gurion, Mao, Kennedy, Nyrere, Nixon, Trudeau, Kinnock, and Blair bnt there are also a couple of literary figures, Seamus Heaney and Orhan Pamuk, and there are three women, Eleanor Roosevelt, Anita Roddick and Margaret Thatcher.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Judd’s speech of apology to the Aboriginal people is included and most impressively there are two speeches from Barack Obama including his victory speech of 4 November 2008.