The most mouth-watering books this month
This August sees the first of Homebru Cookery … an extension of the incredibly successful Exclusive Books campaign, which celebrates local books and authors. With cookery books always being such a massive part of this promotion, it was time for this mouth-watering genre to have an entire campaign of its own … aptly titled Tasty Reads – Mzansi Made.
So this month, dive into the close on 50 recipe-filled books that made the Homebru Cookery list. Like an exceptional menu at your favourite restaurant, it’s hard to choose (we always have food envy) … but here’s one of our favourites.
It’s easy to spot the most loved, and used, cookbooks in our houses. They’re the ones with smears of olive oil on the cover and faint outlines of spilt sauce quickly wiped off the pages inside. But by golly, we won’t be doing that with our copy of Tashas Inspired. This celebration of food and art is a glorious collection of some of Natasha Sideris’ favourite, classic recipes from around the world, beautifully illustrated with not only mouth-wateringly stunning food photos, but also original works of art … half recipe book, half coffee table book.
It’s a visual feast … with recipes like Savoury Cheesecake (a grown-up cheesecake Tasha remembers having with her mum at Harper’s, the Stuttaford’s department store café), with Tortilla from Spain and Waldorf salad from New York. There’s a Greek salad that will impress the socks off your guests (and which even can’t-boil-an-egg cooks will be able to dish up), and Salmon Wellington (for the more capable in the kitchen). Each of the chapters are themed – think New York Deli, French bistro, Spanish tapas bar – with posh cocktails (Frozen Limonana, Drunken Cherry Champagne, Grapefruit Martini), clever hints and tips on how to create a suitable atmosphere at home … heck, there’s even a Spotify playlist for you to play at your dinner party. This book is an inspiration and a joy, and we won’t be spilling olive oil on the cover! A Homebru choice, R1209 from Exclusive Books.
New York café vibe with chilli eggs on hash browns. A gazpacho Spanish affair. And a blue cheese wedge salad which was de rigueur among New York’s fashionable set of the 1920s. We’re sharing these recipes from Tashas Inspired … you’ll find them – and one or two more of Natasha’s favourites – on our website.
Compiled by Kym Argo
