17.-BEST MEDITERRANEAN BOOK

Maybe the climate change is already affecting Mediterranean cookbooks = there seems to be fewer countries interested. The sun is now more present elsewhere than it was. There is a clear emphasis now on the Southern and Eastern shares and less focus on health aspects of the Mediterranean diet. It could have convinced nearly everyone by now, and it is not new anymore. Health is also less of a concern for food now.

2000 France – Alain Ducasse, François Simon (Assouline)

2001 Spain – Jose Carlos Capel (Spam)

2002 France – Mourad Mazouz (Marabout)

2003 Greece - Mirsini Lambraki (Ellinika Grammata)

 Turkey – Engin Akin (S.Bank)

 UK – Claudia Roden (BBC Books)

 US – Nancy Harmon Jenkins (Harper Collins)

2004 France – Alain Ducasse (Alain Ducasse)

2005 Spain – Nova Cuina Catalana (Buffet Ambigu)

BEST IN THE WORLD

April 7, 2007

FINALISTS

1.- AUSTRALIA

Saha – A Chef’s Journey Through Lebanon and Syria

 Greg and Lucy Malouf

 (Hardie Grant – Australia)

Lebanon and Syria might be an issue in politics, but in food there are real reasons to treat them jointly. Great chef Malouf visits his roots, and gives us a beautiful account of the regions food.

2.- FRANCE

La Cuisine du Líban

 Amélie Vuillon – Pomme Larmoyer

 Photographies and Style : Amélie Vuillon

 (Marabout)

There is a very large Lebanese community in France, and much interest in Lebanese food. This book is published by French market leader Marabout, which has risen to the top thanks to new design, careful pricing, and innovative contents, responding well and immediately to the new needs of cookbook buyers.

3.- GERMANY

Zu Tish in….Mittelmeer Staaten – Box 1

 (Abakus Berlin – Arte Editions)

These 5 Video CD, made by Arte Television, are probably the best to try the different cooking of North Italy, South Italy and Islands, Spain, the Maghreb states and Spanish islands, The Eastern Mediterranean. The camera is there at the market, in the kitchen and at the feast. A small cookbook comes with each CD, with very good recipes.

4.- ITALY

Luxuria: Grammatica della Cucina Mediterranea

 Adelchi Scarano

 (Tascabili Bompiani)

This book is an historical and literary voyage through the Medditerranean great authors of Greece and Italy. After reading it, you could believe the destiny of the world has always been decided at the table.

5.- THE NETHERLANDS

Mijn Keoken van de Zon

 Mediterrane Rezepten

 Virginie Besancon

 (Terra)

Every year there is a migration to the Mediterranean sun from the Netherlands. The author shows well the connection between the south and the food in her recipes.

6.- PORTUGAL

Cozinha Tradicional de Marrocos

 Ana da Costa Cabral

 (Publicaçoes Europa – América)

The author was helped by the official delegation of tourism of Morocco. It shows the diversified cookery of the land and its multiple textures and tastes.

7.- SPAIN-CASTELLANO

Las Recetas de la Madre

 C.Bas Vivancos

 (www.cocinacasera1.com)

This book has a good website which shows with many photos a whole cookery course in home Mediterranean food. The mother, Ines, is now 84 years old and remains faithful to her olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and onions.

8.- SPAIN-CATALAN

Memoria de la Cuina Mallorquina

 Receptes Antigues de Tots els Pobles

 Antoni Tugores

 (Edicions Documenta Balear)

This is the result of years of research village after village, patiently comparing hundreds of local recipes of Mallorca cooking.

9.- SWEDEN

Medelhavsmat förlänger livet

Örjan Klien, Mai-Lis Hellenius, Jesper Aspengren

Photo: Jan Bengtsson

Layout: Torgny Karlsson

Project Manager: Ingela Holm

(ICA)

This is one of Project Manager Ingela Holm´s outstanding books, produced by her excellent group of a leading chef and brilliant authors.

10.- UK

Middle Eastern Cookbook

 Maria Khalifé

 Photos: Stuart West

 (New Holland)

The Middle East is demand from cookbook readers. This is a well researched book with much information from an experienced author.