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Country New Zealand – A Culinary Journey, Ian Baker
New Holland
Reviewed by Lindsay Wright (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Cook book authors should be portly and pleasant – and Ian Baker shows he fills both requisites quite cheerfully, thanks.

It must have been a dream assignment; touring New Zealand clicking scenic shots of the countryside and appetising portraits of meals. The scenery is stunning and the food intriguing, though you can't help but wonder how the eateries were chosen.

In Taranaki: A Mediterranean pasta pie is chosen from the menu at the Waiau Estate Cafe and Winery (with a stunning shot of Tongaporutu's two remaining sisters); the Tawa Glen Cafe and Restaurant contributes a chicken, hummus and sun-dried tomato panini; the Kauri Cottage at Egmont Village chips in with a sticky lemon and almond tart; Cafe Wunderbar at Oakura has Rabbit Wunderbar; and the Green Cheese at Tariki a kumara and apricot filo pie. By these gastronomic delights are we known.

This is the book to give to a foreign foodie – each dish comes with a full recipe – but the selection seems a bit haphazard, with no particular attention paid to provincial specialties.

It's almost worth it for the pictures alone – if you ate your way through all the recipes, you could be portly and cheerful too.