18 December 2009

A TREASURY OF NEW ZEALAND BAKING

This year I edited a great book, A Treasury of NZ Baking, which was published by Random House. It’s a very feel good story as generosity is at the very core of the project.

New Zealand’s top food writers and chefs shared their very favourite recipes, legendary food writer Tui Flower wrote her “baking wisdom” tips and hints. Celebrity baker Dean Brettschneider flew in from Shanghai courtesy of Air New Zealand to bake every recipe for photography. The AUT patisserie students assisted him in the school’s kitchens and learned lots in the process. Aaron McLean, NZ’s top food photographer by a country mile, shot all the photos in three days and the Auckland City mission got to serve all the baking to the hungry and needy at the end of each day.

But it does not stop there. All the royalties from this book go to the Breast Cancer Foundation and as the book went to Number 1 on the best seller list, the foundation stands to make a handsome sum.

In the spirit of Christmas and to honour the munificence and spirit that built this book, think about giving it to someone who will appreciate the story and the 104 beautifully photographed timeless recipes.