Guy Mirabella's Eat Ate (Hardie Grant, pbk) is one of the most lascivious.
Mirabella is a cafe owner and designer living on Mornington Peninsula, in Victoria, and both skills show in this stylish book.
Browsing through, it's not easy to find the Italian-inspired recipes among the many design elements.
Although I like the look of some like baked mushrooms, broken bread, or spicy pumpkin caponata bruschetta, I doubt whether this book will get beyond my coffee table and into the kitchen.
• Justin North, a New Zealand-born chef and owner of the acclaimed Bécasse in Sydney, has written a more practical book, French Lessons (Hardie Grant, pbk).
He returns to classic French cooking, although with a modern touch, giving an insight into the methods and recipes, some with detailed instructions and how-to photographs.
He explains the classic methods and how they have changed in modern cooking, such as the use of pan juices or jus instead of the rich, time-consuming sauce espagnole. The way he plates these dishes also owes more to contemporary Pacific rim restaurant cuisine, than French cuisine bourgeoise.
A useful and practical book as well as being beautifully illustrated.
