THE BOOKMAN DOES LUNCH, IN STYLE

Often the life of a solo book blogger can be a somewhat lonely existence and sometimes too, rather unrewarding. For me though the excitement of books arriving for review in the mail most days, sharing enthusiasms with booksellers and publishers, attending book launches of admired authors and the occasional meeting up with an interesting author make it all well and truly worthwhile.

So yesterday was a real treat. I attended a lunch for Australia's first Masterchef, Julie Goodwin, as a guest of Random House New Zealand who put the lunch on in association with Dymocks, Newmarket, at Simon Gault's superb flagship restaurant, Euro, on the Auckland waterfront.
Random House Australia published Julie's book, Our Family Table, and of course Random Houuse NZ are next year publishing the book from the winner of the NZ Masterchef series, Brett mcGregor.
And what a lunch we enjoyed. Superb in every way. Great company, wonderful food and excellent wine.

Here is what I had for lunch:

Appertiser: Rachel Scott ciabatta with extra virgin olive oil, mushroom truffle cheese and semi-dried tomato;canned duet of warm nuts and olives.
Entree: Sage smoked tuna tartar with carpaccio of scampi, clear tomato and pickled rhubarb.
Main: Akaroa salmon crusted in toasted pecans with saffron cauliflower puree and preserved lemon nage.
Dessert: Cinammon apple with pineapple marshmallow, crumble and caramel sauce.

 It was simply divine, and of course wonderfully presented as one would expect at this fine establishment.
After lunch Simon Gault introduced Julie and raised the idea of a cook-off between the Australian and New Zealand Masterchefs. Interesting idea.
Pic left - Julie with Simon Gault.

Julie charmed and entertained with her story of how her life was changed forever when she became the first Masterchef Australia.She spoke of the stressful and intense times as well as the fun, the ups and the downs when cooking in the Masterchef kitchen, the invaluable lessons and inspiration the finalists got from some of Australia's most outstanding chefs.

Julie lives on the NSW Central Coast north of Sydney, she is delightful, charming and humble, a great lunch companion, and a marvellous cook. Her book is a winner. After lunch and the signing of many copies of her book she flew off to Christchurch with her Random House publicist where among other engagements she is to meet NZ Masterchef Brett McGregor for the first time.I'm sure they will have fun comparing notes.

Pic right - Julie with Kelley Young, runner-up Masterchef NZ who now works in the kitchen at Euro.

Footnote:
Brett McGregor's cookbook will be published by Random House NZ; likely pub date, April 2011. The Bookman is most interested in this project and will keep you posted as news becomes available, title/definite pub date etc.
Perhaps Kelley should write a book too? Although she looked rather busy today in the open plan Simon Gault kitchen.
Footnote 2:
Random House Australia also published MasterChef Australia - The Cookbook which I will write about in a few days.