Summer is the season of beach reads, swimming – and lots of delicious food. If you need some foodie inspo, look no further than the mouth-watering pages of these cookbooks!
Bittersweet by Thalia Ho
From Thalia Ho, creator of the award-winning blog Butter and Brioche and author of Wild Sweetness, a lyrical and visually stunning cookbook of more than 100 enthralling dessert recipes, exploring the five tastes and how they transform on the plate and beyond.
In her follow-up and foil to Wild Sweetness, Thalia Ho explores the five tastes and distills their ability to transform desserts into something memorable. Bitter brings deep complexity, sweet tempers and comforts, sour surprises and brings things to life with citrus or tang, salt can offset or enhance, umami is strong and satisfies.
With gripping prose, deep reflection, and hauntingly beautiful photographs, Thalia shares more than 100 inspired and inventive recipes to elevate what your last bite can be—adventurous, otherworldly, and unforgettable:
- Sugar Buns
- Singed Sherbet Meringues
- Preserved Lemon Pie
- The Dark Side Roulade
- Crème Brûlée Ice Cream
- Salted Yolk Custard Tart
- Soy Ganache Brownies
- Deep Miso Caramel Apple Pie
- Ivoire and Caviar
- Crunchy Chili Oil Tart
For beginner and ambitious home cooks and bakers alike, this striking and meditative book is one you’ll want to show off, on your coffee table, on your shelf, and in the kitchen.
Romantasy Cocktails by Jassy Davis
The ultimate gift this Christmas for the Romantasy fan, from the bestselling author of Gin Made Me Do It.
Ignite your senses with Romantasy Cocktails, a captivating collection of drinks inspired by the most seductive romantasy stories, realms and tropes. This book is the ultimate companion for spicing up your reading nook or found-family book club, whether you’re fae, a shapeshifter or the chosen one.
Adorned with stunning illustrations and easy-to-follow recipes, this book is a steamy essential for every romantasy lover’s TBR pile and is guaranteed to make you feel like the FMC (or MMC) of your own story.
Let cocktail high sorceress Jassy Davis guide you through the art of selecting mystical ingredients for potion-making, revealing the secrets to crafting the perfect contraceptive shot or a zero-alcohol Lavender Lemonade. Everything is better with a Shadow Daddy (drink and romantic lead) or, if you’re sharing with the pack, a cauldron of Summer Ball Sangria is sure to get the party started.
Sunshine, Lemons and Sea Salt by Donna Hay
From international bestselling cookbook author, Donna Hay, comes Sunshine, Lemons and Sea Salt – a celebration of modern coastal Australian home cooking.
Donna’s most beautiful book yet, this is fresh, sun-drenched and zingy summer food made for sharing. Featuring vibrant seasonal produce, delicious flavours and easy cooking, all set against the stunning backdrop of the sparkling Sydney Harbour. Bringing us into her own home and kitchen, join Donna as she creates no-fuss meals for her family and celebrates special times with friends. Find recipe inspiration for quick and easy weeknight dinners guaranteed to please, long, lazy summer afternoon catch ups, casual beach dinners and stunning garden tea parties. Along with no-fail recipes, Donna shares styling secrets that will bring some breezy, beach-side magic to your table.
Seasons Where the River Bends by Jane and Jimmy Barnes
Venture into the garden with Jane and Jimmy Barnes in Seasons Where the River Bends, the eagerly awaited follow-up to their bestselling cookbook Where the River Bends.
Inspired by the vibrant produce from their cherished Southern Highlands garden, this new cookbook features more than 60 recipes, sumptuous photography and new stories from Jimmy and Jane that celebrate seasonal cooking, family and entertaining. From comforting Scottish classics to traditional Thai favourites and even a Mexican feast, Seasons Where the River Bends features recipes such as Southern Highlands Cullen Skink, Teddy’s Favourite Garden Greens Pasta, Silken Tofu with Soy and Ginger, Vegetable and Chickpea Tagine, Massaman Beef Cheek Curry, Old-fashioned Lemon Delicious, Jane’s Classic Chocolate-chip Cookies, Winter Mixed Berry Cobbler, Fig and Feijoa Jam, and many more. This is seasonal home cooking, Barnes style.
Blue Food Cookbook by Andrew Zimmern and Barton Seaver
In connection with the James Beard Award- and Emmy-nominated PBS docuseries Hope in the Water by Andrew Zimmern (food equity and climate activist, Emmy and four-time James Beard award winner) and Barton Seaver (an expert on seafood cookery and sustainability), a sustainable seafood bible, including a guide to environmentally friendly practices for buying and cooking food from oceans, lakes, and rivers, with over 145 recipes.
Is farmed or wild-caught salmon better Is tuna being overfished Do I have to worry about mercury poisoning Is seafood high in protein Is industrial aquaculture sustainable How can I do anything to address the climate change and food security crises Is it okay to eat raw fish How do you shuck an oyster Is frozen seafood good How do you cook mackerel without it stinking up the kitchen
The answers are clear in The Blue Food Cookbook. In celebration of the fish, shellfish, and plants we eat from our oceans, lakes, and rivers (in other words, blue food) and in collaboration with the PBS docuseries Hope in the Water, award-winning chef and TV host Andrew Zimmern and leading sustainable seafood expert and educator Barton Seaver present a seafood bible looking at blue food from water to plate: a tangible, delicious cookbook for how to best buy, prepare, and cook from our oceans and waterways sustainably.
With a comprehensive guide to culinary categories of fish, how to best set up your kitchen, what you should have in your pantry, different cooking techniques, and more than 145 delicious recipes, this first-of-its-kind cookbook is all you need to cook seafood confidently and responsibly. Recipes span from humble meals to impressive fare for entertaining, from traditional dishes to creative takes—even desserts (trust!)—inspired by flavors from Zimmern’s and Barton’s travel around the world, restaurant experience, and their home kitchens, for blue food of all kinds, including tinned fish, shellfish, fillet fish, seaweed, and beyond:
- Butternut Squash and Mussel Soup
- Fish and Chips, but Make It Salad
- Seafood Pot Pie
- Halibut with Green Goddess Dressing
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Nashville Hot-Inspired Catfish
- Miso Broiled Carp
- Sockeye Salmon Enchiladas
- Vietnamese Caramelized Shrimp
- Chocolate Chip Kelp Brownies
A lusciously photographed and beautifully illustrated tome, The Blue Food Cookbook is a definitive must-have for every home cook looking to enjoy delicious, nutritious seafood more sustainably.
Urban Food Forester by Justin Calverley
Growing your own fruit, veggies and herbs can be time-consuming if you use a traditional approach of planting annuals every year. But there is another way. By harnessing the power of perennials, trees and shrubs, you can establish a thriving ecosystem that requires minimal upkeep – perfect for busy people.
Justin Calverley, author of the bestselling The Urban Farmer, reveals the secrets of our woodlands and how their low-maintenance model can revolutionise our outdoor spaces. Known as ‘food forests’, these self-sustaining backyard ecosystems focus on long-living perennial plantings. A food forest garden, once established, will continue to give back year after year, reducing maintenance and increasing biodiversity.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, you’ll learn the practical steps to creating a garden that will provide lasting benefits for you, your family and the environment.