The Cooks Companion - Stephanie Alexander

'The Cooks Companion' by Stephanie Alexander is an Australian classic, which reflects Stephanies extensive culinary experience as a cook, restauranteur and food writer. The places and people who have influenced Stephanie over the years are evident throughout this book, those imparticular being her mother Mary Buchett, and her extensive travels throughout France.

The book was revised in October 2004, with the addition of an extra 300 pages to the already 800 pages. 'The Cooks Companion' leads the reader through ingredients and recipes for the Australian kitchen, covering 100 fresh ingredients arranged alphabetically, with information and ideas on each ingrediant including, season, variety, storage, preparation and cooking.

'The Cooks Companion' is somewhat a kitchen bible to which I refer to for traditional recipes, adaptions on classic recipes, quick ideas, practical advice and simply a good read. I love how Stephanie shares with us her personal food memories of how recipes came about...from her travels, family heirloom recipes, to those which she has aquired from other chefs friends and cook books.This book does not have glossy pictures typical of most cook books, but what it will gain is cooking splatters and marks resulting from its amount of use.

A book for life, a must have for all lovers of food and cookery!