Essential Reading

For aspiring chefs and novice cooking enthusiasts alike, nothing opens more possiblities than a great new cookbook. At The Essential Ingredient Sydney we stock not only the newest releases in culinary publishing, but also a wide range of classics in as many categories as you can think of. If you get a chance you should really come pay us a visit, grab a book off the shelf and have a sit down in our reading section. Here are a few books that have got us staying up late in the kitchen!

Sharing Plates: A table for all seasons

by Jared Ingersol

This is the second book for Jared and the book is very appealing. I love the font and the lush, dark photography. It steps outside the mould of most of our recent books. It is a relaxing, mouth-watering collection of simple elegant food with intelligent combinations. The food is not over-simplified, yet there is enough there to keep any level of cook interested. The addition of easy to make cocktails is inspirational. I will be starting the evening with Poached Pear Martinis and onion rings with parmesan mayo at my next dinner party.

Cooking with Verjuice

by Maggie Beer

Maggie Beer produced this little gem of a book, no doubt, to aid the sale of her very own verjuice. Regardless of the reasoning, this book remains the only tome on the many uses of the increasingly popular verjuice. Verjuice is great, but when you have a huge bottle of it some inspirational culinary tips are welcome.

Apples for Jam: Recipes for Life

by Tessa Kiros

Of all the books I have seen and bought this year, this remains a firm favourite. Its chapters are divided into colors unusual, but life is made of many colours. There are stories, none of which I have read, because I have been too interested in the recipes. There is nothing gourmet about it. You just look through the colours and see favourite flavours and ingredients. It inspires me to take my child back to the old delicious flavours of life. Mince and rice dumplings with dill and parsley, spinach and feta cannelloni, baked ham and cheese bread pudding, tomato risotto. My fussy child has eaten everything made from this book, so far. Simple things made to sound so colourful.