COOKBOOK IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS

For The Gardener

Sticky Fingers Green Thumb

Hayley McKee

Hardie Grant Books

This book is full of beautiful cakes and treats made with garden bounty — vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. There are also some unconventional flavour pairings: rhubarb, basil and oatmeal, peach and pickled petal, matcha green tea with pea. There is also informative sections on what and how to use your garden excess and some helpful baking tips.

For The eater with a conscience

Truth, Love and Clean Cutlery

Thames and Hudson

This is a guide to world restaurants that incorporate truth, love and care in their work. That means creating food that will not be forgotten, an environment that ‘‘makes’’ the food taste better and a care for the ground or water from where the food is derived. It features about 15 New Zealand restaurants including Otago’s Amisfield, Fishbone, Sherwood and Fleurs Place.

For The farmers market enthusiast

Always Delicious

Lauraine Jacobs

Potton and Burton

A selection of the Listener writer’s columns, incorporating her passion for fresh locally grown produce.

For The Italian food lover

Francesca’s Italian Kitchen

Francesca Voza and James Stapley

Penguin

A beautiful book full of the Wanaka restaurant’s favourite dishes — the polenta fries had to be included — and new ones inspired by the author’s trip to Italy. Also includes pasta and pizza recipes and a cocktail section.

For The inspired cook, short on time

Ottolenghi Simple Yotam Ottolenghi with Tara Wigley and Esme Howarth

Ebury Press

Ottolenghi and his team have come up with a system to help cooks decide what type of cook they are and then provides a colourcoded system of recipes — all with his signature fresh style — to suit.

Some recipes have no more than 10 ingredients, others can be made ahead of time and some are for lazy days.