It was about six years ago that I first noticed that whenever I Googled a recipe, RecipeTin Eats was towards the top of the list of suggestions. Now, I don’t know much about search algorithms, but I assumed someone was paying someone else to boost it to the top. Hating to feel manipulated, I stubbornly avoided the site. Stupid, stupid. In the end, it was the gnocchi that got me. Time after time I’ve tried to make gnocchi and every time it has ended in tears. I’ve followed the recipes of top-flight Italian chefs, Genoese nonnas, and even Felicity Cloake, top of my ‘most-trusted’ list. Did they produce light, fluffy pillows of delight? They did not. So, why choose a Japanese-born, Australian-based content producer to get the recipe for this Italian speciality right? Because it works. A combination of meticulously tested recipes, clear instructions, tips, notes and explanations and dishes that just push the right buttons make this book (plus her previous one, Dinner, and the recipes on the blog) worthy of top spot on your shelf. Nagi keeps it real with affordable pantry ingredients, squeezing flavour into fresh dishes even if you’re short on time and budget. There are a lot of Asian dishes but she ranges widely across cuisines so you’ll find kimchi noodles buddying up with corn fritters, beef koftas and prawn and coconut curry. Best of all, the recipes are exclusive to the book, so you’re not shelling out for something you could have got for free (but the gnocchi recipe isn’t here; for that go to the website). Tracy Whitmey

Advertisements