Cravat-A-Licious

By Matt Preston (Random House, RRP $42.99)

 

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Dance until it Rains: Life Lessons from my Mother MasterChef New Zealand: The Cookbook Volume Two The Modern Pantry The NZ Pressure Cooker Cookbook Allyson Gofton's Recipe Journal Simple Cafe Food Granny's Kitchen Baking Hazel's Home Baking New Zealand's Hottest Home Baker Yates Young Gardener: Get your Hands Dirty

The Aussie version of the MasterChef television phenomenon bore little resemblance to its Brit inspiration (and our Kiwi version even less so) but it did prove incredibly entertaining on several levels.

It was fun to pick a favourite wannabe chef and back them throughout the competition, booing and hissing at the telly every time one of the other contenders did well (a bit like watching Formula 1 with spatulas instead of spoilers).

Then there were the judges, with their sage advice and steely gazes.

And, of course, there were Matt Preston's cravats. They deserved their own listing in the credits.

Preston is often referred to as the world's best food critic and it's easy to see why: he writes with passion for his subject but without pretense. There's humour, humility and, above all, honesty. This book is a collection of his writings and is delightful. His stories are part food adventure and part travel guide, making for a fascinating read that will appeal to a wide audience.

He also squeezes in some insightful interviews with some of the world's best chefs and includes tips on creating the perfect cheese toastie and more.

A tasty read.

- © Fairfax NZ News