DIRT

GEMMA WALSH & KATIE KERR, GLORIA PUBLISHING, P/B, $35

This whimsical, simple little book grew from a series of brunches, lunches and dinners hosted by chef Gemma Walsh and book-maker Katie Kerr, at Walsh’s Grey Lynn home in the winter of 2018. At each meal was a writer, who responded to the experience in whatever way touched them. And so alongside Walsh’s plant-based recipes and her own thoughts on what the food means to her, we get a diverse spread of short essays, conversations and poems – texts that speak of memory, culture, immigration, nostalgia, a sense of place, a sense of belonging or not belonging. Some relate directly to the food, some to the experience of sharing food, recipes and conversation, some to food memories. Contributors include Courtney Sina Meredith, Lana Lopesi, Rosabel Tan, Dominic Huey, Vanessa Crofskey, Natasha Matilasmith, Owen Connors, Liam Jacobson, Amy Weng, Reem Musa, Gabi Lardies and Sam Walsh. Illustrated with quirky photos and text layout, it is clearly a project made with love. TW