Melbourne is home to famous chefs and restaurants, with a passionate foodie culture for everything from fine dining to hole-in-the-wall sandwich shops. And now that more and more of Melbourne's culinary icons are releasing cookbooks, it's possible to get that gourmet experience from the comfort of your own kitchen!

Baker Bleu: Bake It Till You Make It

By Mike Russell

In 2016, Bak­er Bleu start­ed as a small bak­ery in Elstern­wick, creating sourdough using traditional techniques and sustainably farmed ingredients. It wasn't long before they became a cult hit, expanding to new locations and supplying bread to premium Melbourne restaurants. In Baker Bleu: Bake It till You Make It, co-founder Mike Russell shares over 70 recipes for bread and other sourdough creations; but as well as bringing quality sourdough to homecooks, Russell shares the story of Baker Bleu, the ethos behind it, and the huge rewards that can come from putting ethics at the core of business.

Beatrix Bakes: Another Slice

By Natalie Paull

Lots of Melburnians were disappointed when the iconic North Melbourne cake shop Beatrix Bakes closed in 2022, but fortunately Natalie Paull is still sharing her incredible creations with us through recipe books. Beatrix Bakes: Another Slice came out earlier this year, with brand new creations as well as recipes for beloved classics from the shop.

Paull's recipes give a lot of insight into the techniques that go into creating unique flavours and showstopping presentation, so while you might need to set aside a whole day to complete some of them, even novice bakers will come out with something delicious! And don't forget about Paull's first book, Beatrix Bakes, which is full of the same insight, and iconic cakes from the shop days.

Meatsmith

By Andrew McConnell & Troy Wheeler

If you're not a baker, don't worry, Melbourne still has a cookbook for you! Meatsmith is a boutique grocer and butcher created by Troy Wheeler and Andrew McConnell, the restauranteur behind Gimlet and Culter & Co. Meatsmith stores combine high quality products, ethical sourcing and expert knowledge for a shopping experience unlike any other, which is echoed in the Meatsmith cookbook. With detailed advice on technique, as well as curated menus for any occasion, Meatsmith is more than a recipe book for meat; it's an elegant guide to classic cooking and connecting over food.

Moroccan Soup Bar

By Hana Assafiri

The Moroccan Soup Bar has been an icon of North Fitzroy since 1998. Serving incredible vegetarian feasts at affordable prices, it's no surprise locals love Hana Assafiri's restaurant. But this institution is also more than a restaurant; Moroccan Soup Bar is founded on a philosophy that Hana describes as ‘a vision whose primary objective was not monetary… [but] to share experiences, and walk away a little changed as a consequence.’ This book reflects the atmosphere of the Soup Bar – warm, welcoming and colourful – and is also laced with Assafiri's cultural insights as an activist and changemaker.

As well as this cookbook full of delicious recipes (including the famous chickpea bake!), you can also read more about Assafiri and what led her to open the Moroccan Soup Bar in her new memoir.

 Special price

Home Made

From Broadsheet Media

Most Melburnians are familiar with Broadsheet, the curated online guide to the best of what's happening around the city. But you may not be familiar with Home Made, the recipe book they released as a love letter to Melbourne food and the people we share it with. With 80 recipes from iconic Melbourne chefs, which have been perfectly tailored for home cooks, this is the perfect way to bring the city's food culture into your own kitchen.

While stocks last, our Readings shops have Home Made at a special discounted price, so there's never been a better time to add this collection to your home library!