Some great Melbourne Wine Stores to check out!
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 | | Rathdowne Cellars - North Carlton - fiercely independent |
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 | | Prince Wine Store |
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 | | Randalls - Geelong |
Worth the journey to Geelong...
Visit Our Sponsor |
 | | Armadale Cellars |
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 | | Blackhearts & Sparrows - Windsor, Brunswick & Nth Fitzroy |
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What our Customers have been talking about..
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 | Melbourne Wine & Food Festival 2012 - 20th Anniversary
Book Now for the Masterclass Weekend. Don't Miss Out! |
Visit Our Sponsor |
 | | Union Dining |
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 | Casa Luna Cooking School
Ubud Bali |
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Cumulus Inc
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Greetings!
Back in August we mentioned the pending annual tsunami of cookbook titles - well its arrived! We have hundreds of new titles, landing on our doorstep, authors touring, dinners and instore events. Like children in a lolly shop we've been picking up one title only to put it down again to pick up the next one. Which is not very productive - but its definitely making us hungry! This year Christmas is particularly strong for local Australian publishers, baking, particularly professional or 'hard-core' baking and the quirky. One author squarely in the 'quirky' camp is David Chang, the New York based Chef. Following on from his groundbreaking Momofuku, David is editing under the McSweeney's banner, what is the funkiest, urban, contemporary food magazine there is - Lucky Peach. We've sold out at least 10 times. Thankfully issue 2 arrives in a few weeks. One of the few criticisms of David's first book was the lack of dessert orientated recipes. Never one to miss an opportunity, this Christmas we will have Momofuku Milk Bar, written by his pastry chef Christina Tosi. This is no ordinary dessert book. It's neither refined desserts/patisserie (think Pierre Herme) nor crazy European orientated (think Adriano Zumbo). It is guaranteed however to challenge your concept of desserts One of the trends we are excited to see has been the publishing of books on Street Food cultures. Long celebrated in non-Western cultures, Street Food is making a huge resurgence in Western and Urban communities. Here in Melbourne, we only have a few examples but in New York, Los Angelese and now London (and elsewhere) there are all sorts of quality street foods being served up from roadside stalls, often mobile trucks ofen operated by serious chefs. And now in a slightly ironic twist, there are street food cookbooks so you can have street food at home... Street Food Revolution, Food Trucks, and now Mission Street Food. If you want to try the experience, two we visit occasionally in the inner North are Beatbox Burgers and Taco Truck - you'll need to follow them on Twitter or Facebook to keep up with where they are on any given day. Another trend we have noticed is an interest in Latin American, Mexican, Spanish & South American cuisine. These sections are working particularly hard on our shelves at present. There aren't very many new books this Christmas - but one thing they all have in common is an interest in live fire cooking, charcoal grill cooking and barbecue. At next year's Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, there will be a special live fire cooking masterclass and there will be several great books on barbecue and smoking coming out before Christmas. Local publishers have strong titles this year with books from Andrew McConnell's Cumulus (see below), Shane Delia's Maha, Mark Best's Marque, Neil Perry's Rockpool Bar & Grill, Frank Camorra's Movida Cocina and a host more. Also well represented are strong quality baking titles: Michel Roux's Desserts, Short & Sweet: the best of home baking, a new book from one of our favourites Dan Lepard, Philippa Sibley's PS Dessert (and yes it has the snickers dessert recipe); Adriano Zumbo; Pierre Herme's Macaron, and Janice Wong's Perfection in Imperfection from 2am Dessert Bar to name a few As always at this time of the year authors are touring and we have an event with Adriano Zumbo, a special dinner with Luke Nguyen, an exclusive dinner at Cumulus Inc with Andrew McConnell, drinks & tastes with Janet de Neefe and a few other things up our sleeve
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Author Event: 26 October - Adriano Zumbo - next Wednesday - an evening with Adriano Zumbo instore
 | | Zumbo by Adriano Zumbo $50 |
Adriano will be with us next Wednesday 26th October to talk about his book, the amazing recipes and the fun he has developing them.
Anyone who has watched or heard of Masterchef will have heard of Adriano Zumbo - one of Australia's most interesting, eclectic and accomplished pastry chefs/patissiers - if only because his creations strike fear into the heart of TV's wannabe chefs.
Despite the Willy Wonka/ Daliesque connotations in the media, Zumbo has been classically trained and worked both in Australia and France with Australian culinary greats such as Neil Perry and international heavyweights Ramon Morato and Pierre Herme.
His training has informed his creativity and design such that they know few if any boundaries: cakes with blue cheese syrup, Katsudon petit fours (cake that looks like crumbed fried Japanese pork), Fried Egg petit fours, salt & vinegar or kalamata olive or vegemite macarons; there are few if any things he won't try - 'Wagyu Steak' dessert anyone? Zumbo's book is not for the faint-hearted; but it is definitely achievable. Most of the recipes have multiple components which are well broken down and organised. You may need to get some specialised ingredients but what a lot of fun! The book includes: Macarons (he calls them Zumbarons), Chocolates, Pastries, Gateaux de Voyage, Cakes and Desserts as well as some basic preparations.
If you are up for a sweet challenge - this is the book for you! As usual, our event is free, but bookings are essential. There are only 30 places.
Due to a large number of no shows last month, bookings are limited to a maximum of 2 people per booking.
Tastes will be available from the book (Amanda's baking!)Zumbo: Adriano Zumbo's fantastical kitchen of other-wordly delights 7pm Wednesday 26 October 2011 @ Books for Cooks, 233-235 Gertrude St Fitzroy To book, call or email us: T: (03) 8415 1415 shop@booksforcooks.com.au |
Author Event: 7 November - Luke Nguyen - Indochine - an evening with Luke Nguyen @Eat Drink Man Woman
 | | Indochine by Luke Nguyen $69.95 |
All good things come in threes - Secrets of the Red Lantern, Songs of Sapa and now Luke's latest - Indochine: baguettes & banh mi - finding France in Vietnam.
Luke will be joining us for dinner at Eat Drink Man Woman in Brunswick St Fitzroy on 7 November for an intimate evening in the upstairs private dining room chatting about France, Vietnam and sharing platters of food from the book.
The French colonisation of Vietnam, which lasted for nearly one hundred years, had a profound influence on Vietnamese lifestyle, architecture and cuisine. In Indochine, Chef and author Luke Nguyen revisited his beloved Vietnam to delve deeper into the culinary legacy left by the French. Against a backdrop of grand colonial hotels, Luke talked to chefs, bakers, farmers and family members to explore the impact the French had on what the Vietnamese eat and cook today. More than 100 recipes showcase the fusion of French and Vietnamese ingredients and techniques, interwoven with the heart-warming and personal stories Luke uncovered on his journey. If you've enjoyed Luke on SBS - you will love him in person. His love of good food and his eagerness to share his knowledge and experiences are unsurpassed. $65 per head
Indochine Dinner with Luke Nguyen 7pm Tuesday 7 November 2011 Eat Drink Man Woman
413 Brunswick St St Fitzroy Bookings Open Monday 24th November To book & pay, call (03) 9419 0088 Luke's books will be available for purchase on the evening. If you would like signed copies of any of Luke's books but can't attend, please contact us.
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Author Event: 9 November - dinner with Andrew McConnell @ Cumulus Inc
 | | Cumulus Inc by Andrew McConnell $59.95 |
In a few short years, Cumulus Inc. has won a place in many hearts.
With its open kitchen, industrial architectural elements and light streaming in through the bank of windows, it is somewhere to gather, talk and eat at any time of day.
And the food fits like a glove, starting with the perfect breakfast and ending with a late-night charcuterie plate.
Based around the ebb and flow of a day at Cumulus Inc, Andrew McConnell's long awaited first book gathers his recipes for the signature dishes that keep people coming back for more. This is food for the way we eat now.
We are extremely excited to be able to invite you to help celebrate the launch of the book Cumulus Inc with an intimate dinner with Andrew McConnell.
There are 68 places only.
Each ticket includes a signed copy of
Andrew's new book Cumulus Inc
$180 per head
7pm Wednesday 9 November 2011 @ Cumulus Inc in the ARC One Gallery
45 Flinders Lane Melbourne, To book & pay, call (03) 9650 1445
during business hours (8.30am-6pm Mon-Fri)   |
Author Event: 15 November - Janet de Neefe - an evening with Janet de Neefe @ RiceQueen
 | | Bali by Janet de Neefe $60 |
Janet de Neefe, is an ex-pat Australian who has lived in Ubud in central Bali for the past 25 or so years. Her cooking classes and restaurant at Casa Luna in Ubud are justly world famous and she was one of the original founders of the Ubud Writer's Festival.
In Bali: the food of my island home, Janet introduces us to the food and people that captured her heart and made Bali her home.
The book is a beautiful collection of traditional and contemporary Balinese cuisine. Many of the dishes are favourites of Janet's family.
If you are looking for a return to the tables of Bali, this is a beautifully designed and photographed cookbook that will evoke all the memories of the best food in Bali. As Janet says....there is nothing fancy or ambitious here, all you really need is a mortar and pestle, a knife, a wok, a stirring spoon and a flame'.
We're lucky that Janet is in Melbourne in November and will be joining us at Rice Queen in Smith Street, Fitzroy to talk about her new book, her life in Bali and her restaurant and cooking classes.
Tastes from the book will be served. Please join us!$20 per head, drinks extra
Bali: the food of my Island home 7pm Tuesday 15 November 2011 @ Rice Queen, 2/231 Smith Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065 To book, call (03) (03) 9419 6624 Janet's book will be available for purchase on the evening. If you would like a signed copy but can't attend, please contact us. |
Books: Rockpool Bar & Grill
by Neil Perry
 | | Rockpool Bar & Grill by Neil Perry $79.95 |
Neil Perry's Rockpool Bar & Grill restaurants are the holders of numerous stars, hats and awards.
So it was to be expected that the book would be pretty good too.
This is a serious look at great elegantly simple food based on superb ingredients.
The book is laid out like the menu and along the way Neil introduces the reader to how the restaurant was established, his suppliers and chefs.
This will reward anyone who wants to cook great meat and seafood on a grill; anyone who wants a great collection of sides and condiments for their own bar and grill ; and anyone who wants to know more about the cutting edge of sustainably farmed and fished produce here in Australia.
...to buy... |
Dining: Golden Fields
a review
 | Lobster roll number three thousand two hundred and twenty
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Dining on your own can often be a bit awkward. The serves are perhaps too large, there's no-one to talk to, you forgot to bring a good book...you can't justify a whole bottle of wine....
If this sounds familiar - get down to Golden Fields - if you can get in. Recently Tim had an exquisite dinner for one. We had been hearing great things about the food and the signature dish New England Lobster Roll, so when Tim was at a loose end in St Kilda on a wet Thursday night, it was the obvious choice.
To start with, the food is all to share and if you are by yourself, they offer the option to have many of the dishes as a half-share so you can still try a good range of dishes without feeling uncomfortable or decadent. Also much of the menu is quite light and delicate - which again leads to being able to graze widely. Tim had:
- Raw: King Salmon, Chinese Mustard, pickled shallots, ginger & cucumber
- Raw: Duckfish, avocado, fresh horseradish & dried sea lettuce
- New England Lobster roll, hot buttered bun, cold poached crayfish, watercress & kewpie
- David Blackmore beef shin, five spice, sesame
- Chicken broth, enoki, shimeji mushrooms, & lime
- Assorted grains, dashi, dried shitake, furikake
and a glass or two of good village burgundy. The portions were just right for one and with a seat at the bar near the pass, the theatre performance was very entertaining. The bill was extremely reasonable! Golden Fields is a great new addition to Melbourne dining; flexible, innovative, interesting and reasonably priced. As usual Andrew McConnell has fallen on his feet with an elegantly designed interior, a cool menu and a great team of people. Golden Fields is open from lunch Tuesday to Thursday and all day Friday to Sunday when a seperate interesting breakfast menu is served. Apparently most evenings are a bit busier so if you haven't booked, grab a seat at the bar or go when its raining or take some time off mid afternoon when you'll be able to get a seat and enjoy a leisurely time. We'll be back for breakfast soon... www.goldenfields.com.au 157 Fitzroy St, St Kilda (03) 9525 4488 |
Macaron
by Pierre Herme
 | | Macarons by Pierre Herme $40 |
For the past few years we've been tearing our hair out - trying to get an English edition of Pierre Herme's Macarons.
Finally, its been translated! Pierre Herme is the modern godfather of the Macaron. His shop Pierre Herme in Paris is a mecca for bakers and macaron lovers alike.
This seminal book includes detailed step by step instructions from one of France's greatest pastry chefs on how to make the perfect macaron as well as recipes for his famous flavour combinations.
This is a must have book for pastry chefs and bakers and at $40 it's less than the cost of a small tray of macarons!. Illustrated with full colour throughout, metric by weight measurements and clear lucid instructions - this is the best Macaron book by far.
And if you can't face the thought of making them, the pictures are truly gorgeous
...buy... |
Books: Jamie's Great Britain
by Jamie Oliver
 | | Jamie's Great Britain by Jamie Oliver $55 |
It wouldn't be Christmas without another Jamie Oliver book would it? You'd be forgiven for saying no thanks - got enough - but you'll be missing out! Following on from Jamie's Italy this is a worthy look at contemporary good British food. As Jamie himself says... "over the years our food culture has embraced loads of different flavours and influences from all the people who have settled here and made this country their home. I hope the food in this book reflects the open- mindedness of our culture as well as the beauty of Great Britain. There are over 130 of my favourite recipes here: some are indisputable classics, some are my versions of the classics, some should be classics but just haven't been made famous yet and others I've made up by picking from the great bounty of regional produce."Recipes that we'll be cooking include: Baby Yorkshire Puds with creamy smoked trout & horseradish pate; Glasgow Potato scones; Empire Roast Chicken; Legendary Clootie Dumpling; Worcestershire Beef Sarnie - just to start with. |
Books: Bocca: the cookbook
Jacob Kenedy
 | | Bocca: the cookbook by Jacob Kenedy $69.95 |
In a world saturated with Italian cookbooks, this was a real surprise - and instantly went home! Before opening Bocca di Lupo in Soho, London in 2008, Jacob Kenedy cooked at Moro in London, the Boulevard in San Francisco and took a year off to travel and cook around Italy - it shows! Boca di Lupo is in a hidden backstreet in Soho and has twice been named London's best restaurant. What struck us about Bocca was first the interesting selection of recipes and second, Kenedy's relaxed and inviting prose - this is definitely one to read in bed. Recipes that caught our eye inclded: Bone marrow, Barolo & Radicchio risotto; Oyster & Prosecco risotto; Beef & Peppercorn ragu, baked sea snails with parsley & garlic, pluck with artichoke; eel with white polenta...and so on. The dessert chapter is also well worth a look. Kenedy trained at a Sicilian gelateria during his 'gap year' and the range of desserts, ices & gelati is very good. Jacob is also the co-author of The Geometry of Pasta. ...buy... |
Books: Short & Sweet
Dan Lepard
 | | Short & Sweet by Dan Lepard $55 |
We've been waiting several years for Dan to do a new book. We've baked the old ones cover to cover. Dan has been promising us a grand tome on British Baking but that is still being written - so in the interim we have Short & Sweet: the best of home baking, which is a compendia of Dan's various baking columns and articles and thoughts on home baking. As usual, Dan's recipes are great - we've already increased the morning tea quota to cater for all the baking Amanda and Kate want to do. Equally enjoyable though are Dan's pithy asides and insights scattered throughout. We've already tried the Ginger Spelt biscuits and the only fault we could find was that the recipe didn't make enough - they only lasted a day! The long list of things we'll be baking include: tapenade dinner rolls; saffron peach cake; dark aniseed cake; cheese & black pepper buttons; almond maple pavlova with fresh cherries; leek, smoked haddock & Lancashire cheese pies...need we go on? ...buy... |
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Which brings us to a close for this Newsletter.
In addition to our Newsletter, we also occasionally post on facebook, twitter and our blog - you can subscribe to these via our website if you would like to keep in touch.
If you haven't already noticed, our website is now finally live and catalogues everything we have in stock. You can safely purchase, order, pre-order upcoming titles and request out of print searches online.
We are adding more detailed content every day and night. A growing number of titles have multimedia content available such as videos and look inside tools. We'll keep adding those as we find them. Our forthcoming page lists new titles up to Christmas - and there are a lot of them this year!
Please have a browse online and tell us what you think! Of course, we are still open every day and welcome your visits and calls.
Regards,
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Tim & Amanda
Books for Cooks
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