Four B.C. titles among cookbooks named to Taste Canada shortlist

Article content

Four cookbooks from B.C. chefs and food creatives have landed on the shortlist for this year’s Taste Canada Awards.

The Kitchen: A Journey Through History in Search of the Perfect Design by John Ota; Hawksworth: The Cookbook by David Hawksworth, Jacob Richler and Stéphanie Nöel; The B.C. Wine Lover’s Cookbook: Recipes & Stories from Wineries across British Columbia by Jennifer Schell; and You Wanna Piece of Me? More Than 100 Seriously Tasty Recipes for Sweet and Savory Pies by Jenell Parsons were among 46 titles from six provinces named to the list of Canadian-authored cookbooks vying for the Taste Canada Awards/Les Lauréats des Saveurs du Canada.

Separated into English and French language, as well as subcategories such as culinary narratives and general cookbooks, the titles were selected by the Taste Canada jury, which is made up of volunteers from the country’s culinary industry appointed by an independent selection committee.

Article content

This year’s awards, the 24th for the organization, are particularly poignant, according to Karen Baxter, the director of Taste Canada, as the pandemic saw Canadians increasingly embrace their at-home culinary exploration.

“Baking and cooking have been a much-welcomed source of enjoyment and ‘togetherness’ during these past several months,” Baxter said in a news release. “Canadians have found inspiration to plan, prepare, and regather at the table. This ancient custom, known as food prep, has been rekindled.”

The boost in cooking at home was also apparently a boon for the cookbook business.

According to BookNet Canada statistics, 1.5 million cookbooks were sold in Canada in 2020. Those sales amounted to an estimated $54 million in sales revenue.

Article content

“Canadian culinary authors continue to provide unparalleled content for your kitchen journey, and we are happy to have the honour to showcase them,” Baxter says.

The winners will be announced during a virtual gala hosted by chef and TV personality Shahir Massoud and journalist Ariane Paré-Le Gal in November. To learn more, visit Tastecanada.org.

English-language books

Culinary narratives

Flat Out Delicious: Your Definitive Guide to Saskatchewan’s Food Artisans by Jenn Sharp, TouchWood Editions, Victoria

Growing Under Cover: Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free Vegetable Garden by Niki Jabbour, Thomas Allen & Son (Storey Publishing), Salem, MA

Peace by Chocolate: The Hadhad Family’s Remarkable Journey from Syria by Jon Tattrie, Goose Lane Editions, Fredericton

Article content

The Kitchen: A Journey Through History in Search of the Perfect Design by John Ota, Appetite by Random House, Vancouver

The Taste of Longing: Ethel Mulvany and Her Starving Prisoners of War Cookbook by Suzanne Evans, Between the Lines, Toronto

General cookbooks

Diala’s Kitchen: Plant-Forward and Pescatarian Recipes Inspired by Home and Travel by Diala Canelo, Penguin Canada, Toronto

Flavorbomb: A Rogue Guide to Making Everything Taste Better by Bob Blumer, Appetite by Random House, Vancouver

Hawksworth: The Cookbook by David Hawksworth, Jacob Richler and Stéphanie Nöel, Appetite by Random House, Vancouver

Mandy’s Gourmet Salads: Recipes for Lettuce and Life by Mandy Wolfe, Rebecca Wolfe and Meredith Erickson, Appetite by Random House, Vancouver

Article content

Matty Matheson: Home Style Cookery by Matty Matheson, Abrams Books, New York, N.Y.

Regional/Cultural cookbooks

Bisous & Brioche: Classic French Recipes and Family Favorites from a Life in France by Laura Bradbury and Rebecca Wellman, TouchWood Editions, Victoria

Eating Out Loud: Bold Middle Eastern Flavors for All Day, Every Day by Eden Grinshpan, Penguin Canada, Toronto

Kiin: Recipes and Stories from Northern Thailand by Nuit Regular, Penguin Canada, Toronto

The B.C. Wine Lover’s Cookbook: Recipes & Stories from Wineries across British Columbia by Jennifer Schell, Appetite by Random House, Vancouver

The Vegan Armenian Kitchen Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora by Lena Tashjian, Author, Richmond Hill

Article content

Single-subject cookbooks

Baking Day with Anna Olson: Recipes to Bake Together by Anna Olson, Appetite by Random House, Vancouver

Cooking Meat: A Butcher’s Guide to Choosing, Buying, Cutting, Cooking, and Eating Meat by Peter Sanagan, Appetite by Random House, Vancouver

Jenna Rae Cakes and Sweet Treats: Over 100 Recipes for the Modern Baker by Ashley Kosowan and Jenna Hutchinson, Penguin Canada, Toronto

The Hunter Chef Cookbook: Hunt, Fish, and Forage in Over 100 Recipes by Michael Hunter, Penguin Canada, Toronto

You Wanna Piece of Me? More Than 100 Seriously Tasty Recipes for Sweet and Savory Pies by Jenell Parsons, Appetite by Random House, Vancouver

Health and special diet cookbooks

Buck Naked Kitchen: Radiant and Nourishing Recipes to Fuel Your Health Journey by Kirsten Buck, Penguin Canada, Toronto

Article content

Eat Good Fat: Nourish Your Body with Over 100 Healthy, Fat-Fuelled Recipes by Lee Capatina, Penguin Canada, Toronto

Oh She Glows for Dinner: Nourishing Plant-Based Meals to Keep You Glowing by Angela Liddon, Penguin Canada, Toronto

The Bite Me Balance Cookbook: Wholesome Daily Eats & Delectable Occasional Treats by Julie Albert and Lisa Gnat, Appetite by Random House, Vancouver

The Primal Gourmet Cookbook: 120 Easy and Delicious Recipes for a Paleo Lifestyle by Ronny Joseph Lvovski, Penguin Canada, Toronto

French-language books

Les narrations culinaires

Bon vivant! par Marc Hervieux, Flammarion Québec, Montréal

La jungle alimentaire: comment s’y retrouver par Julie DesGroseilliers, Les Éditions La Presse, Anjou

Article content

Le cidre au Québec: histoire, cidreries et coups de coeur d’ici par Stéphane Morin, Les Éditions de l’Homme, Montréal

Santé! Une sommelière démystifie le merveilleux monde du vin par Jessica Harnois, Pierre Huet et Eric Godin, Les Éditions La Presse, Anjou

Supernaturel: Immersion dans le monde du vin nature par Vincent Sulfite, Les Éditions de l’Homme, Montréal

Livres de cuisine générale

Chez Lesley — Mes secrets pour tout réussir en cuisine par Lesley Chesterman, Les Éditions Cardinal, Montréal

Le coup de grâce — tome 2 par Samuel Joubert, Les Éditions de l’Homme, Montréal

Les recettes de Mandy: salades gourmandes et autres délices par Mandy Wolfe, Rebecca Wolfe et Meredith Erickson, Les Éditions La Presse, Anjou

Article content

Petit Prix par Geneviève O’Gleman, Les Éditions de l’Homme, Montréal

Petits festins de tous les jours par Alexandra Leduc, Modus Vivendi, Montréal

Livres de cuisine régionale et culturelle

Défi des p’tits chefs les recettes — Volume 4 par Béatrice Savoie-Frenette, Les Éditions Cardinal, Montréal

Mangez local. Recettes et techniques de conservation pour suivre le rythme des saisons par Julie Aubé, Les Éditions de l’Homme, Montréal

Livres de cuisine sujet unique

À la plaque par Ricardo Larrivée, Les Éditions La Presse, Anjou

BBQ Santé par Geneviève O’Gleman, Les Éditions de l’Homme, Montréal

Ces muffins dont tout le monde parle par Madame Labriski (Mériane Labrie), Les Éditions de l’Homme, Montréal

Les brownies de Juliette par Juliette Brun, Les Éditions La Presse, Anjou

Article content

Révolution Kombucha: Tout ce qu’il faut savoir pour le brasser vous-même par Sébastien Bureau et David Côté, Les Éditions de l’Homme, Montréal

Livres de cuisine santé et diète particulière

3 Fois par Jour- Un Peu Plus Végé par Marilou Bourdon, Les Éditions Cardinal, Montréal

Caro Kéto — 80 recettes pour faire le plein d’énergie par Caroline Dumas, Les Éditions Cardinal, Montréal

La Cantine Végane — Recettes Pour Bons Vivants par Marie-Michelle Chouinard, Groupe Ville-Marie Littérature (VLB éditeur), Montréal

Presque Végé par Geneviève O’Gleman, Les Éditions de l’Homme, Montréal

Aharris@postmedia.com