On Tuesday 9 Octoberwe’re having dinner with one of our longstanding favourite authors Tessa Kiros.

Every year, when asked which author we would like to have tour - Tessa Kiros has been at the top of our list.

Tessa is the best-selling author of some of our most beautiful cookbooks such as Falling Cloudberries, Apples for Jam, Twelve, Venezia, Piri Piri Starfish and Food from Many Greek Kitchens.

Visiting Australia for the first time since she became an author, to appear at the Sydney International Food Festival and to celebrate the launch of her new book Limoncello and Linen Water, Tessa will be our guest for dinner!

In Limoncello and Linen Water, this much-loved author celebrates the heritage of Italy, the country she has chosen to call home.  This whimsically feminine book is a tribute to the women in our lives – mothers, mothers-in-law, grandmothers – and the important lessons we learn from them.  With accessible, delicious recipes ranging from robust family dishes to quirky cakes and old-fashioned preserves, this book is a precious heirloom to treasure.

If you don’t know Tessa - no-one else captures the spirit and soul of a place or family quite like Tessa Kiros.  Born in London to a Finnish mother and a Greek-Cypriot father, she moved to South Africa when she was four, and at the age of 18 set off to travel, learn all she could about the world’s cultures and traditions and discover new ways of living and eating.  She has cooked at London’s The Groucho Club and in Sydney, Athens and Mexico. On a trip to Italy to study the Italian language and food she met her husband Giovanni, and they now live in Tuscany with their two children.

With the help of George Calombaris and Shane Delia we’ve organised a four course sharing style dinner at St Katherine’s

When:  Tuesday 9 October

Where: St Katherines - 237 Cotham Road Kew

Price : $95

To book call St Katherine’s on 9207 7477 or email [email protected]

If you can’t attend but would like signed copies of her books you can order online or contact us by phone and we’ll organise that for you

A New Cookbook - Tropical Cuisine

Over the years we have had occasional ‘taste’ workshops with local growers and producers.  Next Tuesday, we are lucky to have Clare Richards visiting from cyclone swept Cairns in far North Queensland.

Clare is a cook, recipe developer, cooking school teacher & committed tropical locavore based in Cairns after spending a decade in tropical and Northern Australia.

Recently published, Tropical Cuisine: cooking in Clare’s kitchen is one of the best self-published books we have ever seen.  Defined by strong design, and filled with beautiful photographs, sumptuous recipes, and a treasure trove of detailed useful information about tropical & Australian food products, this is a beautiful and practical cookbook.

Only published late last year, and already an award winning cookbook, Tropical Cuisine is currently in the running for a Gourmand ‘Best in the World’ Cookbook Award going up against cookbooks from Sweden, France and Brazil.  The awards will be announced in March at the Gourmand Cookbook Fair in Paris where hundreds of cookbooks from all around the world compete for recognition.

On Tuesday, Clare will be chatting to us about tropical produce, self publishing a gorgeous cookbook, and the effect of Cyclone Yasi on local food producers.

Please join us for a taste of the tropics, a look at unusual tropical produce and learn how to support our local tropical produce industry.

As usual, bookings are essential.  Places are limited to 30.  The event is free.

Telephone Bookings are Essential: +613 8415 1415

7pm Tuesday  22 February @ Books for Cooks, 233-235 Gertrude St Fitzroy

If you can’t attend, we can organise signed and/or personalised copies of this beautiful cookbook for you.

Copies will be available for purchase on the night.

Please RSVP by telephone after 10am

Despite being the birthplace of much of Western culture, religion, language, science & history, the Eastern Mediterranean remains a place of veiled mystery; seductive, fragrant, textual & textured, simple & exotic.  Nowhere is this more evident than in the current interest in foods from this region.  Silvena Rowe’s Purple Citrus & Sweet Perfume may not be the first book this year to look at foods of the Eastern Mediterranean, but it is certainly one of the most beautiful, evocative & with the author’s heritage & view point, a worthy addition to the kitchen shelves.

Silvena Rowe was born & raised, by her Turkish father, in the ancient city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.  Plovdiv, orginially ‘Philosophillis’, a Greek Macedonian, then Roman, Byzantine & finally Ottoman city is the second city of Bulgaria and for millenia, a crossroads for the mingling of Eastern & Western culture.  All of these Empires, imported, sometimes forcibly cuisines, cultures & ingredients from their trading partners and neighbours resulting in a complex, multi-faceted cuisine

This, perhaps in part, explains why her food is equally comfortable, yet exotic to cooks familiar with the Western Mediterranean menu dominated by French & Italian influences.

Although not in any way a memoir, the book provides occasional glimpses of Silvena’s family traditions, Ottoman food culture, and her innovation.

Numerous interesting boreks, salads, kofte & gozleme beckon and will be cooked shortly.  Ingredients may seem unusual, but most can be easily purchased in either a good supermarket or a Middle-Eastern deli.

Silvena’s first book ‘Feasts’ won a prestigious Glenfiddich Food & Drink award

What do we say:  a copy has already gone home, & will be staying there.

What have we tested: Lamb & Pistachio Kebabs (p.135); Pomegranate Glazed Kebabs with Spiced Pomegranate Chutney (p.145); Fennel & Feta Kofte with Walnut Tarator (p.57); ) &  Tomato, Pomegranate & Sumac Salad with a Pomegranate Dressing (p.126)

Why should you have it: innovative, Eastern Mediterranean influenced casual food, full of bold flavours, perfect for summer

Who should get it:If you love Claudia Roden, Greg Malouf or Yotam Ottolenghi, this is a perfect compliment.

When can I get it: Out Now $65