21 B.-BEST COOKBOOK ILLUSTRATIONS

More and more publishers trust illustrations for their cookbooks. Part of it is due to the success of illustrations for children books, which is now resulting in more illustrated cookbooks, for children and adults. Another factor is that food photography dates a cookbook far more than illustrations. Illustrations may make a cookbook more personal, as well as more international.

2002 France – David Burton (Hachette)

2003 South Africa – Tony Grugan (Struik)

2004 Singapore – Serge Benbouge (Editions du Pacifique)

2005 The Netherlands – Marnix Rieb (Tirion)

BEST IN THE WORLD

 April 7, 2007

FINALISTS

1.- ARGENTINA

Donato per Bambini

 Donato de Santis

 Fotografía: Carlos Fadigati

 Ilustraciones: Iñaki Echeverria, Eugenia Mas (Donatino)

 (Editorial Bonum)

Donato de Santis received the best Italian cuisine “Best in the World Award” in 2006 in Kuala Lumpur. The illustrations for this children cookbook are excellent, among the best in the world.

2.- BRAZIL

Churrasco – Dando Nome Aos Bois

 Instván Wessel

 Illustraçoes: Paulo Caruso

 (Cia Editora Nacional)

Churrasco is barbecue meat in Argentina and Brazil. This book shows the world wide return to favour of meat. The illustrations in this case probably make the book and the meat more appetizing to all readers.

3.- CHINA

Red Chamber in Liao Cuisine

 Zhang Ben Teng

 Photographer: Yang Yue Xiang

 (Jilin Cultural Technical Press)

The Red Chamber is one of the best-known Chinese literature classics. Here photography also takes a red focus, red being the best colour traditionaly in China.

4.- FRANCE

Elise Et Ses Délices

 Elise Collet-Soravito

 (Lec Editions)

This is a cookbook for adults, with beautiful delicious sexy illustrations by Elise Collet-Soravito. The artist is also responsible for the text, making the book a very unique piece of accomplished food art. The team that produced this book also publishes the Alain Ducasse cookbooks.

5.- JAPAN

Allez Manger à Paris

 Text: Hideko Kogure

 Illustrations: Hideko Kogure

 (Kobunsha)

The illustrations by star fashion designer Hideko Kogure are the work of a true artist, moved by Paris where she lived. The text reflects this passion and admiration for the qualities of French food.

6.- THE NETHERLANDS

Lekker Blond

 Nice and Blond, cooking with your female friends

 Ico van Rheenen

 Illustrations: Femque van Geffen, Janneke Dröge

 (Kosmos)

The illustrators are well known in The Netherlands for the ceramics they design. Because the girls love to cook, and eat, they always wanted to make a cookbook. The recipes are all really accessible, easy to make and original. Especially fit for nice dinners with friends. The design is outstanding. This book is fully focussed on young women. The illustrations are funny and appeal to the target group.

7.- SINGAPORE

Chinese Feasts and Festivals – A Cookbook

 Recipes and Illustrations by S. C. Moey

 (Periplus-Singapore)

As in the cookbook from France above, the author is responsible for both recipes and illustrations. This is a great book, which makes you feel the Chinese feasts spirit.

8.- SLOVENIA

Truffels and Wine

 Tartufi in Vino

 100 Recipes

 In cooperation with the Order of the Slovenian Knights of Wine

 By Dino del Medigo

 Illustrations Zvest Apollonio

 (Mlandinska Knjiga Zalozba)

The beautiful, happy illustrations give the taste to this unusual book about truffles and wine. This book will probably come as a surprise for those who do not know yet the culinary treasures of Slovenia, food, wine and now truffles.

9.- SPAIN-CASTELLANO

Comer y Beber a mi Manera

 Manuel Vincent

 Con ilustraciones de Alfredo Alcain

 (Alfaguara)

Bread is the most important ingredient throughout this very interesting original work of art. Artist Alfredo Alcain made the cover and the illustrations.

10.- SPAIN – EUSKERA

 Bestiarium Gastronomicae

 Andoni Luis Aduriz

 Illustrations: José Belmonte Rocandio

 (Cuadernos Mugaritz-Tabula)

The genius of Mugaritz restaurant in Renteria in the Basque area creates recipes as a tribute to Gyula Madarasz. This Hungarian created beasts before his death 75 years ago, which have been interpreted through illustrations by Jose Belmonte and 31 recipes by the chef.

11.- SWEDEN

Den tekniske kocken: recept och förklaringar till varför vissa saker händer i köket

Per-Olof Hegg, Rickard Nilsson

Photo: Per-Anders Jörgensen

Illustrations: Anna-Penna, Lars Esselius

Layout: Johanna Blomberg, Christina Britton

(Jure)

Rickard Nilsson is a pioneer on television cooking and has been cooking for NASA, now he illustrates the cooking chemistry with clarifying illustrations.