The couple who cooks together, stays together.
We admit. We do have a bit of a love affair with food. And we are obsessed with the food created by Chef Ollie Swart. Freestyle Cooking with Chef Ollie is page after page of deliciousness, with glorious photographs of him (doesn’t hurt that he’s incredibly easy on the eye) with his creations, and QR codes scattered throughout, giving a glimpse into his kitchen, his surfing holidays, his family’s fave songs. From his Gone Surfing collection … Banging Lamb Chops with Anchovy, Herbs and Mustard. QR code: A picture from his and his wife Julia’s wedding. From The 031 collection – Durban’s dialling code, the city where Ollie was born and grew up, eating – and now making – his father’s Proper Durban Lamb and his Nana’s Scrambled Eggs on Bovril Toast. QR code: His 90s kids music. From his Bad and Boujee collection, the sensational Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini, and Classic Gilda Pintxo. QR code: Ollie and his super-talented caterer mother-in-law eating in San Sebastian. Just wonderful. Calling it now … cook book of the year! Penguin
Best partner for cheese? Everything! In Cheese – 100 Ultimate Recipes for Cheese Lovers, James Martin celebrates this kitchen staple, be it as the hero of The Best Every Cheeseboard or the Welsh Rarebit Toastie, the topping on a Tomato Tart, or the sidekick to his Apple Tarte Tatin. Every. Single. Dish. Scrumptious! Quadrille
You are never given a dream if you can’t make it come true, says Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen. And in Klein Jan Cookbook – A memoir of the Tables From My Childhood and My Journey To the Kalahari he tells the story of bringing his dream to life … that of restoring Boscia House in the Kalahari and creating Klein Jan, where the piéce de résistance in the kitchen is his Ouma’s old koolstoof. A collection of 150 South African home-style recipes … from Mampoer Cocktail with Peach Jelly to Biltong Lamingtons, Kalahari Tabouleh to Pampoenkoekies, Mielie Bread and Mosbolletjies to Post Toasties Pudding and Milk Tart (obvs). Drool-worthy images, too. Penguin
Buy All Dhal’d Up for the No-Churn Coconut Cream and Rosewater Ice Cream with Pistachio Sandwiches. Thank us later. After you’ve also made the Panko Patha Wraps, Bacon Dhal, and Morning Chai. Kamini Pather says her new book is ‘a collection of ancestrally-derived recipes that have been updated through ingredients and techniques – the old world has been given some fancy.’ It’s everyday, Indian-ish, good-mood food. And it’s yum! Penguin
Cocoa Meringue Kisses. Sticky Date Whoopie Pies. Persian Love Cookies. If you’ve a sweet tooth, you’ll want to get into baking mode … Emelia Jackson’s Some of my Best Friends are Cookies has more than 80 delish cookie and biscuit recipes. Murdoch Books
Ian Fleming served his scrambled eggs in individual copper dishes with a glass of Tattinger pink champagne and low music. Jack Kerouac’s Green Pea Soup came out of a packet (he did add some crispy bacon). And Agatha Christie’s Hot Bean Salad isn’t going to win any awards. There’s Enid Blyton’s Cherry Cake and Eudora Welty’s Mint Julep and a sherry and strawberry jam pudding from TS Eliot. You may not want to make every single dish in Syliva Plath’s Tomato Soup Cake but you’ll love reading it. Faber
You’ve just got to love Jamie Oliver. In Easy Air Fryer, he tells us air fryers allow you to load up toast with wonderful things, including one of his faves … Marmite, strong Cheddar and cottage cheese, pickled onions and cheese and onion crisps. There are loads of more substantial dishes – Broccoli Soup with Cheesy Soldiers, Curried Chicken Salad, Golden Duck and Sweet Onion Gnocchi. And Sensational S’mores (they really are). Michael Joseph • Also look out for Christina Kynigos’ Healthy Air Fryer Feasts – fast, easy, high-protein meals, all are less than 600 calories and take less than 30 minutes to make. The Marry Me Chicken Puff Pastry Pie’s a winner! HQ
Beer-battered Fish. Tacos. Sweet Chilli Chicken Pizza. Churros. Who doesn’t crave a little guilty pleasure every now and then? Chantal Lascaris’ All Sorts Of Junk Food Made Healthy shows how by making use of clever, healthier ingredient substitutes and smarter cooking choices, you can have your Cheese Cake and eat it, with no guilt. Penguin
