Food and gardening
Best food and gardening books of the month, with Chris Gordon
The Mediterranean Cook by Meni Valle
Meni Valle is a teacher and a culinary tour guide in the Mediterranean. This is excellent news because it means her recipes are easy to follow, considered for a range of skill sets, and include a historical background to each dish. This is her sixth cookbook, and it captures the Mediterranean approach of dishes that spread from the early afternoon through to the evening. Imagine filo pastries, stuffed vegetables, grilled meats, and delicious fruit-based…
We test recipes from Beatrix Bakes: Another Slice
Recently our office was blessed with a visit from legendary local baker Natalie Paull. The visit coincides with the publication of her second cookbook Beatrix Bakes: Another slice (yes, we have signed copies), and to celebrate our multi-talented staff participated in an in-house bake-off, where we trialled recipes from Paull's latest collection.
With Paull on-site to judge an array of delicious bakes including tarts, chiffon cakes, buns and pies – this was truly a taste test to relish…
Vegan festive feasting
Are you vegan and dreading another Christmas of a few wilted lettuce leaves and some turkey-tainted roast veg on your plate? Or perhaps you're not vegan, but you need to cater for some this festive season and aren't sure where to begin! Well, feast your eyes on this line-up of vegan cookbooks that will have vegan and non-vegan tastebuds singing this Christmas!
For those who like a traditional Christmas...
A Very Vegan Christmas by Sam Dixon
Do you miss iconic…
A recipe from Rumi by Joseph Abboud
Rumi is a wonderful collection of over 60 recipes from chef and restaurant owner Joseph Abboud. Below, we're pleased to share a recipe from this heartfelt – and delicous – collection of recipes.
Freekeh, feta and pomegranate salad
Freekeh is wheat, picked green (young) and then toasted or smoked. It comes from the Arabic word farik, which refers to the rubbing of the grains to remove their husks. It’s highly nutritious and it seems the more you eat, the better…
We test recipes from Philoxenia
Recently we tested a selection of recipes from Philoxenia: A Seat at My Table, a new cookbook from Kon Karapanagiotidis, founder of the ASRC, and his mother, Sia.
We were of course thrilled to then have Kon and Sia themselves stop by to taste test our attempts and judge the best replication.
Joe Rubbo made Spanikopita
I made the Spanikopita. Although I cheated by not making the phyllo pastry, using store bought instead. This shortcoming was spotted immediately by…
Gift ideas for fathers who love to keep busy
We've compiled a collection of books that are perfect for fathers who love a hands-on project, sharing a big family meal, and getting out and about in nature. Read on for our top Father’s Day recommendations for busy souls.
For the dedicated home cook:
The Food Fix by Yumi Stynes & Simon Davis
Since its launch, the 5 Minute Food Fix podcast has consistently been among the most downloaded food podcasts in the country, and has spawned a vast collection…
Feeding vegetarian teens
by Poppy, Teen Advisory Board memberPoppy from our 2023 Teen Advisory Board has put these plant-based cookbooks through their paces and thinks they pass the test!
Running out of meal ideas for the never-ending hunger of a teen? Below are six delicious vegetarian dinners and snacks from three plant-based cookbooks, approved by a teenager for teenagers. They provide perfect energy boosting for studying, smile-making on test days or even just comfort food when necessary.
David Frenkiel and Louise Vindahl write the popular Green Kitchen cookbook…
The best food and gardening books of the month, with Chris Gordon
Japan: The Vegetarian Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu & Ellie Smith
Nancy Singleton Hachisu, one of the most recognised voices in Japanese food (perhaps you saw her on that excellent television series Salt Fat Acid Heat?), has created over 250 vegetarian recipes that will delight every sense. There is even a chapter dedicated to fried food! This is the perfect book for home cooks and a companion for all of us that have her other fabulous title: Japan: The Cookbook…
What your cookbook collection says about you
Let our resident cooking enthusiast Chris Gordon walk you through what your cookbook collection says about you or perhaps find some inspiration for what it could.
You are part of the Melbourne culture collective ...
Chinese-ish by Rosheen Kaul and Joanna Hu
Chinese-ish celebrates the confident blending of culture and identity through food: take what you love and reject what doesn’t work for you.
In these pages you’ll find a bounty of inauthentic Chinese-influenced dishes from all over Southeast Asia…
Festive feasting this holiday season
Here are my top picks for cruising through the festive season; I’ve tried to pick a cookbook for every occasion you may find yourself in.
⭑ For homemade gifting and storable-snacks for those – inevitable – unexpected guests ...
Preserving the Italian Way by Pietro Demaio
Want to give a little of your time and love to your neighbors and friends? Then make something from your garden and kitchen! Preserving the Italian Way is the ultimate guide for keeping it…
The best food & gardening books of the month
The Real Food Companion by Matthew Evans
I love Matt Evans’ practical recipes, the kindness with which he imparts advice and the generosity of his food and activism. This is an up-to-the-minute revision of his super successful The Real Food Companion and it is a beauty. There are more than 200 recipes of down-to-earth, honest, tasty food. Have this one handy for both reference and inspiration.
First, Cream the Butter and Sugar: The Essential Baking Companion by Emelia Jackson
Keep…
The Reinvention of Mother
Hetty Lui McKinnon’s new cookbook, Tenderheart, is a treasured collection of memories and recipes from a life of unbreakable family bonds and delicious, nourishing food. In this extract, Hetty shares her take on a favourite quick meal from her mother.
During my first year or two of university, I remember a lot of weekday lunches at home, just my mother and I. These were the early years after my father passed and, with my light study load, which…
The best food & gardening books of the month
With a cornucopia of scrumptious cookbooks out in October, let me run you through a lightning round of quick recommendations.
Tenderheart by Hetty Lui McKinnon
Buy this book if: you fell in love with Hetty Lui McKinnon because her books walk the walk and talk the talk, but also because her writing is filled with family anecdotes and top tips for creating the perfect salad. This new book is for anyone who cooks for large gatherings, for fussy eaters and…
Very Good Salads extract
From Shuki Rosenboim and Louisa Allan, owners of Very Good Falafel in Melbourne, comes a delicious 52 recipe collection with a focus on vegan salads. Very Good Salads is all about sharing food, perfect pairings, and very good falafels.
Bulgur wheat, saffron, broad bean and dill pilaf
Coarse bulgur wheat is one of our favourite grains to use at the shop, and this dish is one of our most popular ways to use it! Inspired by Persian pilafs with dill…
The best food & gardening books of the month
Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Extra Good Things by Noor Murad & Yotam Ottolenghi
Do you know that little skip in your step you get when you smell jasmine in full bloom? It happens towards the end of September and coincides with another great gift: a new Ottolenghi cookbook! I know it’s impossible to consider right now, but I promise by mid-month you will be making harissa butter and spreading it over everything. You will be bottling jars of tamarind dressing and…
The best food & gardening books of the month
Around the Table: Delicious Food for Every Day by Julia Busuttil Nishimura
Hands up if you have not fallen in love with the delightful Melbourne- based Julia Busuttil Nishimura yet? Her latest cookbook will soon fix that. Julia has received considerable and worthy praise for her practical and delicious recipes, designed for easy family meals and for occasions when all your friends visit. It all works a treat because Julia has pulled together influences from all over: recipes from her…
We test recipes from Around the Table
Recently we tested a selection of recipes from Around the Table, the latest cookbook from beloved local chef Julia Busuttil Nishimura.
We were of course thrilled to then have Julia herself stop by to taste test our attempts and judge the best replication.
Rosalind McClintock made ‘Leek and Feta Tart’
This recipe was so easy! The pastry didn’t take long at all, didn’t require much care beyond getting the quantities vaguely right and the fact that I cut the…
Recipe extract from Chinese-ish
Chongqing Hot and Sour Noodles
A punchy, simple and deliciously warming noodle recipe from Chinese-ish, the new cookbook by Rosheen Kaul, head chef at Melbourne northside favourite Etta, and illustrator Joanna Hu.
Also known as suan la fen (酸辣粉), this sichuan street food dish of bouncy potato noodles in a sour and numbing broth is flavourful, textural, bright, fresh and packed fullof toppings. All you need are some basic Chinese pantry ingredients to build this bowl of seriously good…
The best food & gardening books of the month
Chinese-ish: Home Cooking, Not Quite Authentic, 100% Delicious by Rosheen Kaul & Joanna Hu
I’m calling it. If you only buy one cookbook this year, make it Chinese-ish. Here are my reasons:
It is filled with utterly delicious recipes but is also a joy to read.
It celebrates the blending of cultures and identity through food, with a bounty of Chinese- influenced dishes from all over South-East Asia.
It is divided into different sections under the banners of: Chinese…
The best food & gardening books of the month
Feel Good: Quick and Easy Recipes for Comfort and Joy by Melissa Hemsle
You know what I need now? A night in with a good book and a delicious home- cooked meal that will make me feel healthy and satisfied – the type of meal that encourages herbal tea as the beverage rather than (too much) wine.
This cookbook will help those that share my fantasy for the perfect evening. There are more than 100 recipes that are literally designed…
The best food & gardening books in May
The Nutmeg Trail: A Culinary Journey along the Ancient Spice Routes by Eleanor Ford
The one and only Yotam Ottolenghi said publicly that Eleanor Ford is a gastronomic archaeologist and I realised with one quick shiver of delight that surely that is the job ofgreat dreams. Ford’s latest book, The Nutmeg Trail: A Culinary Journey along the Ancient Spice Routes is filled with recipes and stories that explore how centuries of spice trading and cultural diffusion changed the world’s cuisine.
…
We test out recipes from Yiayia Next Door
Recently we tested out a selection of recipes from Yiayia Next Door, the cookbook put together by brothers Luke and Daniel Mancuso, their favourite Yiayia next door, and other yiayias from around Australia. This cookbook is about the powerful connections we forge when we share a meal with someone across the table - or even over the fence.
Lucky for us, Luke and Daniel Manusco stopped by to select the best re-creation of a recipe from their book. Below…
The best food & gardening books of the month
Cinnamon and Salt by Emiko Davies
I fell hard for Emiko Davies’ recipes when she released Tortellini at Midnight. The title of the book inspired me, but the recipes were what kept her book in constant rotation at my place, partly because they’re easy and partly because they’re equipped to cope with a busy lifestyle and hordes of hungry family members. Davies is an Australia-born author based in Florence (I know!) known for her focus on regional Italian food.
…
Recipe extract from the Mabu Mabu cookbook
From Melbourne-based First Nations chef Nornie Bero, Mabu Mabu: An Australian Kitchen Cookbook is filled with simple yet delicious recipes that champion native ingredients and invite you to innovate the way you cook.
Read on to discover a refreshing recipe from this unique soon-to-be best seller.
Spicy Desert Lime and Watermelon Salad
This sweet-savoury salad is power-packed with flavour. The sweetness of the watermelon – one of my favourite fruits – combines with the sharpness of desert lime and the…
The best food & gardening books of the month
Christine Manfield’s Indian Cooking Class by Christine Manfield
Christine Manfield is one of Australia’s most highly regarded chefs, authors, food writers, food manufacturers, presenters, teachers, gastronomic travellers, the list goes on. Herlatest book is filled with easy-to-follow recipes that will allow you to make curry pastes and blend flavours with absolute confidence. Included are impressive Indian classics, be it a simple dal or an intricate biryani.
Christine Manfield’s Indian Cooking Class is a handbook that encourages creativity. By sharing her…
The best food & gardening books of the month
Take inspiration from the beautiful (and bountiful) array of cookbooks landing on our shelves. As our local parks become our new holiday destinations, whet your appetite with abundant spreads that defy the gloom of the last few months. Take a recipe from here, and another from there to mix flavours and inspirations. For dessert, I’m leaning towards salted tahini and chocolate cookies from Salma Hage’s Middle Eastern Sweets, matched with the most delicious orange, yogurt and polenta cake straight…
The best food & gardening books of the month
We are so fortunate that we are not in another country battling a pandemic, but rather here in Australia living in relative peace. There are some things we can do to acknowledge that privilege and it can start at our kitchen table. It does not seem much but honouring our produce and our creators does add to our well-being and culture, and the cookbooks below pay respect to the culinary cultures that lie at the heart of our communities. Food…
The best food & gardening books of the month
Australia: The Cookbook by Ross Dobson & Alan Benson
You may already have a Ross Dobson book on your shelves. He is after all a highly acclaimed chef who has written many cookbooks before. But this one, well, this is his masterpiece. With over 350 recipes from all over the world, this enormous tome recognises all our foodie influences. And because it’s Dobson writing, there are also special treats to make using our own flora and fauna. Purchase this one-stop…
The best food & gardening books of the month
One: Pot, Pan, Planet by Anna Jones
It seems to me that every Readings staff member has a favourite Anna Jones recipe, and for excellent reason – her instructions on cooking vegetarian meals are simple, elegant and delicious. A regular writer for the Guardian, Jones trained under Jamie Oliver and is committed to creating meals that are sustainable and stylish. Her new collection, One, features over 200 unpretentious recipes that include one-tray dinners such baked dahl with tamarind-glazed sweet potato…
The best food & gardening books of the month
Regular readers will understand that although one of the bestselling cookbooks over the festive season was all about air frying, this is not something that I’m automatically drawn to. I favour cookbooks that have a certain largesse about their content, a style that inspires, delights even, every sense within your being, and one that you know you will savour for years to come. I often think of cookbooks as having an anthropological element; this is what we are eating now…
Cookbook highlights from the year
I’m proud to let you all know that this year, for the first time, I kept a sourdough starter in my fridge. I also watched my adult kids argue, chop, disagree, stir and use every dish in the house in order to create delicious family meals. This year my cookbooks were bent, splattered and marked for inspiration, for banana bread recipes, noodle soups, and quick, cheese-heavy meals. This year has given us so much anguish, so much anxiety and so…
The best cookbooks of 2020
Every year our staff vote for their favourite books and music of the past 12 months. Here are our top five cookbooks of the year, voted for by Readings’ staff, and displayed in no particular order.
(You can find all our best picks for books and music here.)
A Year of Simple Family Food by Julia Busuttil Nishimura
A Year of Simple Family Food is a beautiful and inspiring offering from much-adored Melbourne cook Julia Busuttil Nishimura whose philosophy…
The best new food & gardening books of the month
This month, our food and gardening columnist recommends four cookbooks from Australian foodies.
To Asia, With Love by Hetty McKinnon
This is what we love about Hetty McKinnon’s recipes: uncomplicated, kind and generous dishes served with a little twist here and there. Her latest cookbook is a riot of flavour and colour with family mealtime considered. If you love a little spice in your life, this cookbook is the complete package and will very quickly become a favourite, even for…
Three new cookbooks for the home kitchen
This month, our food and gardening columnist is recommending two delicious new cookbooks, and one impressive ‘beverage bible’.
Ottolenghi FLAVOUR by Yotam Ottolenghi & Ixta Belfrage
Yotam Ottolenghi has become associated with certain flavours. We might say at a meal, ‘This is an Ottolenghi- inspired recipe.’ By that we might mean we are serving chickpeas with toasted sesame seeds, or a meal based on the glorious colours that fresh vegetables give us. In my household, not a week goes by…
Four delicious new cookbooks in August
Our food and gardening columnist recommends four delicious new cookbooks to enjoy this month.
7 Ways by Jamie Oliver
I love Jamie Oliver. I reckon he has done more for the way we eat than any other cook in modern history. In his latest book, he considers the top ingredients we buy week in, week out. We’re talking about those meal staples we pick up without even thinking. He understands how families work; grab this book if the thought of…
The best books for beginner gardeners
Today is World Environment Day and it’s always an excellent opportunity to reflect on ways we can take better care for the world around us. Here, our food and gardening columnist Chris Gordon explains why a garden can be the perfect way to share joy and love, and shares some of her best bookish recommendations for those looking to start one of their own.
Like so many of us during this strange time, I’ve been walking and spending more time…
Chris Gordon's self-isolation cooking diary: Week 8
In this final instalment of Chris Gordon’s self-isolation cooking diary, she looks to planning a future feast in gratitude of others.
Likely, you are reading this column because you are part of the Readings family. You believe that independent bookshops make a difference to our community, that they are worthy of support. And as restrictions around Covid-19 begin to relax and our social parameters change, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who read my words and reached…
Chris Gordon's self-isolation cooking diary: Week 7
For this week’s cooking diary entry, our food and gardening columnist Chris Gordon looks to others for inspiration…
During isolation I have tried cooking a variety of delicious, inspiring dishes. I started off with a few simple ideas for inspiration, and from there I’ve tackled pickling, sourdough and hot cross buns (well, almost). I’ve also embraced my inner Nonna and learned some valuable lessons on how best to let your adults children take over the kitchen. Cocktails may…
Chris Gordon's self-isolation cooking diary: Week 6
Chris Gordon is our events and programming manager extraordinaire, as well as our monthly food and gardening columnist. Here is the latest instalment of her self-isolation cooking diary.
What have I learned this week?
Making sourdough bread is not for the faint-hearted – even if you do live in the north.
If you haven’t attempted to make it, are you even in lockdown?
This process is not something that you can start and finish in one afternoon.
It will involve…
Chris Gordon's self-isolation cooking diary: Week 5
Chris Gordon is our events and programming manager extraordinaire, as well as our monthly food and gardening columnist. Here is the latest instalment of her self-isolation cooking diary.
I’ve learned a little more about myself over the last few weeks, and reading Jaclyn Crupi’s excellent book, Nonna Knows Best (available 28 April) has helped me to reaffirm a few of these self-discoveries. Most significantly – it does seem that, despite a very strong British heritage, I am in fact more…
Chris Gordon's self-isolation cooking diary: Week 4
Chris Gordon is our events and programming manager extraordinaire, as well as our monthly food and gardening columnist. Here is the latest instalment of her self-isolation cooking diary.
As part of the great experiment of having our adult kids cook for us on a regular basis, I would like to share with you some observations…
Please do note that these observations should not be construed as advice. Certainly one of the big lessons I have learned after being in isolation…
Chris Gordon's self-isolation cooking diary: Week 3
Chris Gordon is our events and programming manager extraordinaire, as well as our monthly food and gardening columnist. Here is the latest instalment of her self-isolation cooking diary.
I want to begin this record by describing my recent odyssey to purchase ingredients to bake my very own hot cross buns.
First, I travelled by foot and with great cheer to my local independent supermarket, only to find bare shelves. I then travelled by bike to markets further afield and yet…
At Home with Chris Gordon, April 2020
Our food and gardening columnist recommends three food and gardening books to enjoy this month.
An Australian Garden by Philip Cox
We should all understand the importance of maintaining indigenous Australian landscapes and gardens. Renowned architect Philip Cox always considered this vital and so some forty years ago purchased eighty hectares on the south coast of NSW as a private retreat and a conservation exercise. Applying his own aesthetic principles of vista, light, texture, colour and mass, Philip worked with…
20% off popular cookbooks
We are pleased to offer 20% off a range of essential cookbooks.
These are all cookbooks that our booksellers and customers love – the ones we always keep on the shelves of our shops because we are always recommending. There’s something for every home cook here.
Browse the collection below to see the full range of cookbooks included in the offer.
This special offer is available online and at our Carlton store, only while stocks.
If shopping in-store, the…
Chris Gordon's self-isolation cooking diary: Week 2
Chris Gordon is our events and programming manager extraordinaire, as well as our monthly food and gardening columnist. Here is the latest instalment of her self-isolation cooking diary.
One bright sunny afternoon with a little time on my hands I emptied the pantry, wiped those shelves down with pure disgust at my family’s filth, and popped everything back in wonderfully themed allotments. So satisfying, even more so than reorganising the Tupperware cupboard.
I learnt that we hoard walnuts and own…
Chris Gordon's self-isolation cooking diary: Week 1
Chris Gordon is our events and programming manager extraordinaire, as well as our monthly food and gardening columnist. Here, she sends us some missives from her home office (and kitchen!), and shares some advice on what foods to make during this period of quiet.
Experiment with pickling.
We’ve all heard about the ravished supermarkets. In my own local, the vegetable section was stripped of everything except cucumbers and brussels sprouts. My friends, this is the perfect time to grab those…
Five cookbooks to inspire you in the kitchen in March
Our monthly food and gardening columnist selects five new cookbooks to inspire you at home this month.
Beatrix Bakes by Natalie Paull
Yes, yes, I know how much you love a light, fluffy sponge and marshmallows dipped in pure chocolate. The importance of sweet food in our daily grind should never, ever be underestimated. Beatrix Bakes is a beautifully presented guide, not for the faint-hearted, to the very best baking from North Melbourne institution Beatrix.
We test out recipes from Beatrix Bakes
Today we tested out a selection of recipes from Beatrix Bakes, the first cookbook from Natalie Paull, owner and chef of Melbourne’s iconic Beatrix cafe and cake shop! And Natalie herself came in to select the best one. Below are the results…
Bronte Coates made ‘Espresso Mashmallow’ (pg. 156):
I was recently (and very generously) gifted a stand mixer and so I wanted to pick a recipe where I got to try it out, hence the Espresso Mashmallow. This…
At Home with Chris Gordon, February 2020
Our monthly food and gardening columnist looks to the year of cookbooks ahead and makes some predictions for what foods will be trending in 2020…
Guess what the vegetable for 2020 is? Be still my heart, it’s brussels sprout! And the drink for the year is oat milk, which I believe is basically porridge.
A new decade brings so many promises for a better and kinder life, with or without sprouts. Certainly the rush of cookbooks coming our way in…
The best food & gardening books of 2019
Every year our staff vote for their favourite books, albums, films and TV shows of the past 12 months. Here are our top 10 food and gardening books of the year, voted for by Readings’ staff, and displayed in no particular order.
(You can find all our best picks for books, music & DVDs of 2019 here.)
Jackfruit and Blue Ginger by Sasha Gill
When Sasha Gill turned vegan, she didn’t want to miss out on the flavours of…
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