THE GREAT NEW ZEALAND COOKBOOK – THE FOOD WE LOVE FROM 80 OF OUR FINEST COOKS, CHEFS AND BAKERS

From the creators of The Great New Zealand Songbook comes The Great New Zealand Cookbook. Featuring 80 of New Zealand’s finest cooks, chefs and bakers, this sumptuous 190-recipe, 432-page book includes handwritten notes from each contributor alongside stunning photography shot entirely on location. 
This unique collaboration features the likes of Al Brown, Dame Alison Holst, Tui Flower, Peter Gordon, Jo Seagar, Fleur Sullivan, Shaun Clouston, Josh Emett, Julie Le Clerc, Simon Gault and many more, each contributing the recipes they make for the people they love.

Following the success of the Songbook, creators Murray Thom and Tim Harper felt that the incredible depth of talent in New Zealand’s culinary scene warranted equal attention and turned their focus to capturing New Zealand’s finest cooking talent up and down the country. Murray Thom says, “Travelling the length and breadth of New Zealand made us realise afresh just how privileged we are to live in such a beautiful country. We battled storms and road closures but any inconvenience was completely eclipsed by many serendipitous moments, such as the tranquility of whitebaiting at dawn or the solitude of hunting in the bush at sunset.”

Alongside photographer Lottie Hedley and videographer Hayley Thom, Thom and Harper travelled for nine months to capture the flavours of New Zealand. “It was an honour to meet such hard-working, dedicated people whose greatest joy is to share their food, prepared with passion and commitment and served with such love and care,” says Thom. “From oyster fishing in Bluff and deer hunting in Mourea to fish and chips on the wharf in Mangonui, everywhere we went we were met with huge generosity and warmth and we were welcomed onto boats and into restaurants, cafés and family homes.”

Once again legendary artist Dick Frizzell has been commissioned to create original artwork for the front and back cover of the book, bringing his distinctive perspective to the humble kiwi tea towel. The Great New Zealand Cookbook benefits kiwi charity KidsCan, which will receive a portion of the proceeds to fund a new initiative that will expand their ‘Food for Kids’ programme through the establishment of KidsCan Orchards in schools.

Published by PQ Blackwell, The Great New Zealand Cookbook is available where all good books are sold.  RRP$49.95

Footnote:
I have just learned, unsurprisingly, that a second reprint is already underway. This book is a cracker and is going to sell and sell.