Oh yes, I’m a very proud friend. I just wrote a post about it in the (blog)house kitchen, go and take a wander in there to learn more about this gorgeous book in the making!

Do you remember English lass Rachel Khoo? She’s one of the young and talented food stylists I’ve featured here in the (blog)house kitchen many moons ago. I met Rachel in Paris in 2008 when she was studying at Le Cordon Bleu. Back then she was flitting around Paris as a food stylist for the likes of Elle à table and Galeries Lafayette,  creating fun workshops in the gorgeous little bookstore La Cocotte, and regularly cooking up a storm of new recipes.

Today, I am very happy to hear she’s coming to Sydney this March to host one of her  fabulous “underground” culinary evenings with her food + design writing friend Frankie…

From penal colony to gold rush eldorado, to sun and surf mecca, British gals Rachel and Frankie interpret the tastes and influences of past and present Australia over a six course dining experience.  Rachel has been hosting a few of these underground dinners in London and Berlin over the past year with great success, and she’s super excited to be coming to Australia.

The edible immigration tales will be told for 3 nights only (Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th March) in a secret Eastern Suburbs Sydney location. It will be 6 courses paired with wine and a recommended donation of $75 pp will be very appreciated. Seats are limited.  In order to book you can email Rachel and Frankie directly or click here for more details.

In more R.Khooks news (geez I love to hear about my (blog)house guests incredible achievements!), her first and super gorgeous book has just been released today. It’s called muesli et granola maison -which translates as “homemade muesli and granola” – and is published by marabout, with photography by akiko ida and beautiful prop styling by elodie rambaud. Here is a rather exclusive sneak peek inside…

miam, non? I love muesli and making anything muesli related, especially muesli bars. And with that perfect touch of french style, who can resist.

Congratulations Rachel! Have a fab time in Sydney (and try not to get too many colours like I have done, it’s really not so pleasant).

xx

Jen from Nectar & Light has recently released another book of bound beauty.  This one is called little italy and features some of her stunning polaroid photography, notes and stories from her travels to Italy, including a recipe or two. It is independently published by her very own company, Fieryeyed Books. Would you like a little sneak peek inside the book? Take a look…

Jen’s blog Nectar & Light is one of my favourites – it’s a special, intimate insight into her unique life, and her new hardcover book little italy looks like a personal, hand held version of her online work. What a treat.

And what is even more of a treat is that  all book orders placed before 29 october will receive one of her gorgeous  2010 calendars for free -  Jen has kindly extended that offer to 1 november just for (blog)house readers.

Thank you Jen  for giving us a sneak peek of your beautiful new book. Congratulations on your new enterprise and I have no doubt this will be the first of many many books to come published by Fieryeyed Books.

xx

I just bought this gorgeous coloring-in book from Small Magazine for a little someone special back home in Australia. It is her birthday in a month – she will be 5! And she is such a darling, she sends me little gifts all the time, including the most fabulous drawings like this one…

Isn’t it marvellous? I’m quite sure that is supposed to be me, standing on my little boat/home, with the sun shining and the water lapping below.  This little girl is such an inspiration to me – she comes out with the most incredible phrases to describe how she feels (once, she was witnessing a very sad moment when one of her aunties was leaving to go overseas and she turned to her mum and said “Mummy, I have swallowed my heart.”). Also, this special little girl even knows instinctively how to deal with bullies. I am so impressed, and wish I knew this when I was her age and beyond (I’m still learning!).

So, dear little Issabella, I do hope you get lots of enjoyment from your new coloring-in book. Happy early birthday sweetness, with much love from one of your far-away aunties.

…this book. it was on sale in a great art bookstore that i just discovered near the concert gebouw.

it’s monday afternoon, and although i have a list as long as my arm, i’m very tempted to make a cup of tea and sit outside on le petit deck of le petit bateau, leisurely turning the pages of my new treasure until the sun goes down.

somebody stop me.