Go Robert! Go Robert! Go Robert!

Wonderful news!  Have you heard?  My old Bestie, Robert Oliver, has just won a major award.

 Robert!

Here's the press release:




Me'a Kai wins Best New Zealand Cookbook in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Random House is extremely excited to have Me'a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific by Robert Oliver with Tracy Berno and Shiri Ram win the Best Cookbook of the Year in the New Zealand category and to subsequently qualify to represent our country in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2010.

The awards are extremely prestigious and this year 154 countries participated in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, entering books in 53 categories. All countries, authors and publishers, big and small, have the same equal opportunity, so it is a big honour to be included in the list. The overall winner will be announced at a lavish award ceremony on March 3, 2011, on the first day of the Paris Cookbook Fair at the Theatre Le 104, within Le 104, the new Artistic Center of the City of Paris.

Me'a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific is a beautiful book which celebrates six South Pacific nations, their culture, cooking and traditions. The book brings together the 'farm to the table' concept and lets the reader get excited by the easy and delicious local foods which exist off the typical tourist route. Robert and Tracy decided to put together a gorgeous recipe book that would say to Pacific chefs: “This is who you are! Your food is as great as any.” They approached Fiji’s best photographer, Shiri, whose response was “If it’s good for the Pacific, count me in!” And so began the journey that has led to the creation of the stunning Me’a Kai.

Their goal is to improve the quality of food offered to the South Pacific region’s tourism market and to contribute towards rural prosperity in the Pacific by creating an increased demand for locally grown foods.
Underpinned by a philosophy of sustainable tourism, sustainable agriculture and sustainable cuisine, Me’a Kai is much more than just a cookbook, it is a fundamental part of this process.
Random House has a strong stable of food writers on our list. This has been really recognised in the New Zealand category of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2010. We commend all of our authors for achieving such success.
Our winners and categories include:

New Zealand Best Book of the Year 2010

 Me'a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific by Robert Oliver with Tracy Berno and Shiri Ram
Best Chef Book

Martin Bosley by Martin Bosley
Best Design

It’s Easier Than You Think by Jo Seagar
Best Fundraising Cookbook

A Treasury of New Zealand Baking by Lauraine Jacobs
Best Foreign Book

Me'a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific by Robert Oliver with Tracy Berno and Shiri RamBest Health and Nutrition

100+ Meals under $10 by Sophie Gray

For more information and a full list or winners visit the Gourmand International website, click here.