As I mentioned in my last post, there are currently plenty of new cookbooks available for gift-giving and a few of them have found their way into our house (none of the ones from my wish-list, I hasten to add!). A cookbook is really a no-brainer gift for anybody even vaguely interested in food and those available seem to cover every possible field of food interest. Neither of the following two are books I would have necessarily chosen for myself and I have been very pleasantly surprised by both of them!
New Holland publish a diverse range of quality non-fiction and pride themselves on their design standards – as is immediately obvious when looking at this book. Competitively priced, this coffee-table edition is beautifully produced in hardback with gold page edging and is filled with gorgeous full-page photo’s of the food, the restaurant, the chef and his staff. If tapas tempts – go for it!
Before I go any further, I really must make a confession. I have never watched a full episode of “MasterChef”. I have caught glimpses of it and watched short sections, but never sat down from “go to whoa” for a whole show. Of course, I am aware of how enormously successful it has been and, having met some of the contestants, I am also aware of how life-changing it has been for them so I was fairly interested to see how a competitive cooking show would translate into a book.
I can certainly see how “MasterChef Australia Volume Two: The Cookbook”, published by Harper Collins, will be an indispensable book for the millions of followers who became so absorbed in this extraordinary television phenomenon. The winner of Masterchef 2010, Adam Liaw, opens the book with a foreward that is both modest and sincere and this is followed by a brief introduction to each of the remarkably varied 24 finalists.
Rich in photographs of the contestants, the judges, the guest chefs, the challenges and the wonderful food that was produced by this talented group of amateurs, this will be a winner in anyone’s Xmas stocking this year. Each of the contestants shares both some of their special moments and their best recipes and the book is dotted with helpful and practical tips and suggestions. Also included are the recipes for such milestones as Zumbo’s notorious macaron tower – even I heard about that! – and the ultimate challenge from Peter Gilmore – the Guava and custard apple snow egg!
If you are one of the many devoted fans of MasterChef and would like to win a copy of “MasterChef Australia Volume Two: The Cookbook” and indulge in some holiday reading and cooking, then you are in luck. I have a copy to give away and for your chance to win it, all you need to do is to leave a comment below with your favourite impression from the show, to give me an idea of what I missed! This competiton is open to readers from any country, too. If you are not in Australia, share with me your favourite moments from your own country’s version of “MasterChef”! I will announce the winner on Monday, January 3, 2011 and will get it into the post for you that week.
So let me hear from you all – what was it about “MasterChef” that you loved best of all?
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Just ( 4 hours ago) bought cookbooks for my 15 yr old boy and 17 yr old girl….for their Christmas stocking. Doing a Nigella gingerbread cake stuffing for Turkey, plus another interesting one…..or maybe the Macadamia and Leek one…..from Womens’ Day…..(p.s. did you know that americans consider the Macadamia to be theirs?? They think this as it has been cultivated in Hawaii since the 1890’s…but that is not the point! And it is my mission, as an expat Australian, to inform all nations that macadamias are Australian, and in particular, queenslandish! Merry Christmas!!
I would pick a copy of that Spanish hunk before reading anything else! 🙂
Amanda that first book looks and sounds really worthwhile and lovely to own even if you don’t use it – and I do love Spanish tapas (more to eat than to make – so many dishes means too much time in the kitchen for me!).
I have only watched the odd episode of Masterchef myself but was impressed most by the lack of nasty interpersonal drama as compared to other ‘reality’ TV shows!
My favourite thing about the show was not the show itself, but that so many people were inspired by it; people I would never have thought would ever be interested in food as more than just fuel.
What to say about MasterChef… It’s just so real!
🙂 Mandy
Bernadette – thinking of you in the snowy wasteland. And you are dead right about the macadamia!!
Joumana – Yes, he is very easy on the eye, isn’t he?
Sarah – I love tapas, but you are right – it is a labour-intensive way to eat.
Sewingelle – thanks for dropping by. It has been responsible for a huge upsurge in food interest, hasn’t it?!
Mandy – I’ll have to take your word for that!
I’ve got both books by my bedside at the moment and they’re both good bedtime reads lol
I am hoping Santa might leave me a cookbook or two under my tree in my absence !!
I have just recently found your blog and subscribed immediately. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into making it so wonderful for people you do not even know.
Anyway, Masterchef was important to me for quite a different reason. I had a massive brain haemorrhage a while ago and because of residual damage can no longer taste food. I was inspired by a number of things on Masterchef: being creative with only a number of ingredients; the beautiful presentation of the food (very important as you eat with your eyes first); the Master classes, which were perfect for me because it enabled me to make dishes without fear as they were demonstrated by “Master” chefs…and lastly, it was clear that food certainly brought people together….many friendships were made among the contestants.
It has injected life into my cooking and entertaining, and it is now more relaxed because the people around the table are more important than the perfection of a meal.
Thanks again,
Angela
Like the other millions I got totally caught up by masterchef. Apart from the fun of getting to know some very interesting amateur cooks, I loved the way the professional chefs were all so stunned by the talent dispalyed by untrained people, as though they had thought they were an exclusively skilled club, and that they were so gracious and generous with their help.
I love love loved the show and the huge multicultural range of foods introduced to Australia. I cooked some of the recipes for my blog – love to hear your thoughts.
http://cookmybooks.com.au/2011/01/07/review-masterchef-australia-volume-two-the-cookbook/