The Latest Cookbooks – February 2024

Ester
By Mat Lindsay with Pat Nourse Allen & Unwin NZ, $59.99

A beautiful book of Australian recipes named after the iconic Sydney restaurant, but proudly not a ‘restaurant book’. Chef Mat Lindsay invites you to play with flavours. Some recipes are simple, like how to create the perfect chip, some are little more exotic like the raw kingfish with burnt mandarin and nori paste. Spanning seafood, breads, vegetables and meat every recipe in this book is for all levels of home cooks. Mat Lindsay worked for Neil Perry and Kylie Kwong at Rockpool in his formative cooking years where he mastered the art of how to taste and build and balance flavour. He opened Ester in Sydney’s Chippendale in 2013.

Chocolate All Day
By Kirsten Tibballs Allen & Unwin NZ, $55.00

The route to chocolate heaven, this book is full of decadent recipes of all things chocolate. From peanut cookie cups with chocolate caramel filling to oozy chocolate sourdough toastie, there’s bite size sweets to full silken flans. The photos will have you drooling. This book will be cherished by bakers of all skill levels, there’s something for everyone. Kirsten is the star of The Chocolate Queen, which airs globally in over 40 countries and is a regular on MasterChef Australia as well as director for the Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School in Brunswick, Melbourne. She says there’s always a right time of day for chocolate.

Recipes for a Lifetime of Beautiful Cooking
By Danielle Alvarez with Libby Travers Allen & Unwin NZ, $55.00

Danielle believes that beautiful cooking is the simplest way to bring happiness to any home. This book shares thoughtful tips and advice for the home cook alongside recipes for any kind of dish you’re preparing to impress with; apertivo, sides, mains, pastries and puddings. Peppered with delightful musings on all things foodie, this book will become a well-thumbed addition to your bookshelf. Her food style is eclectic and draws from her love of French and Italian food, her Cuban roots and her time spent cooking in California and Australia including the Asian influences she gained in Sydney at renowned restaurant, Fred’s.