Cookbooks are always a great gift for those foodies in people's lives — here are a few picks from the team at Fresh.
Wholefood nut
THE WHOLEFOOD PANTRY
Amber Rose
Kyle Books
A go-to book for those looking for some basics and staple recipes on which to base their wholefood diet.
The second book from Amber Rose, who now lives in Matakana, north of Auckland, concentrates on her ''toolbox'' recipes - the base components - and finishes which can make a dish ''sing''.
They are perfect for those taking control of the food they are eating and who are looking for some easy replacements for everyday items.
Meat eater
BOTSWANA BUTCHERY — THE COOKBOOK
Al Spary and Russell Gray
New Holland
If you have ever wondered how much work goes into the creations at Botswana Butchery, this book unveils it.
Fans of the restaurants in Auckland and Queenstown, are bound to find one of their favourite dishes within its covers. These recipes are not for the beginner cook and are rather a challenge for the home cook.
There are plenty of great vegetable dishes alongside the mouth-watering venison, beef, lamb, goat and seafood recipes.
Community minded
COOKING 4 CHANGE
Illustrated Cargoship
One hundred and one famous New Zealanders share their favourite recipes. Ranging from television stars to sports people to artists, all have pitched in to raise money for charity.
Proceeds from the book go to the Auckland City Mission, Starship Foundation, Paw Justice and Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ.
This is a great way to discover some tried-and-true recipes, as well as doing something for the community.
Family cook
SCRUMPTIOUS
Chelsea Winter
Random House
Chelsea Winter's third cookbook cuts the mustard for good, satisfying home cooking.
A nice break from all the ‘‘wholefood’’ cook books, Winter’s book specialises in the seemingly old-fashioned idea of eating tasty, nutritious food from everyday ingredients.
Cafe fan
LITTLE AND FRIDAY EVERY MEAL
Kim Evans and Sophie Beck
Penguin
Little and Friday has branched out from its lovely baked goods to provide breakfast, lunch and dinners and has shared its favourite dishes in its latest book.
The more substantial fare is just as yummy as their sweet treats — I highly recommend the Asian braised beef cheeks.
Beginner
DONNA HAY — BASICS TO BRILLIANCE
Donna Hay
Fourth Estate
For the keen beginner chef, this book is brilliant. It has plenty of advice and recipes for all the basics and plenty of twists to try as your confidence grows.
It will also double as a lovely coffee table book as its photography is, as usual for Donna Hay, very stylish.
Baker
MELIE’S KITCHEN
Amelia Ferrier
Random House
If you can get over the maker of these amazing creations being just a teenager, this book has plenty of inspiration not only for the sweets themselves but the decorations too.
It also includes some great tips on how to decorate.
Celebrity chef follower
This one is hard to pick, with offerings from both Pete Evans and Manu Feildel from My Kitchen Rules, Australian Donna Hay, British chefs Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver and our very own Jo Seagar, Peter Gordon, My Kitchen Rules' Neena Truscott and Belinda Macdonald and MasterChef New Zealand winner Tim Read.
So my advice: if you are after home cooking, try Feildel's More Please; if you are into paleo, Evans has put a new twist on the same ideas with The Complete Gut Health Cookbook; if you are homesick for a northern European Christmas, Oliver's Christmas Book could be for you; Read's Gather is a good one for the young male chef in your family; Truscott and Macdonald's My Green Kitchen is a health food and forager's dream; and grandma will appreciate Jo Seagar's latest offering, Elbows Off The Table Please.
