The Blue Ribbon Cookbook: Recipes, Stories and Tips from Prizewinning Country Show Cooks

I was thrilled the other day to stumble across a fairly new cookbook called The Blue Ribbon Cookbook. Compiled by Liz Harfull, it celebrates the long tradition of country show cooking in South Australia.The cooks range in age from three to ninety-three and each have a strong sense of pride in their contribution to the traditions of good country fare and of agricultural shows – an important part of community life across the State for more than 160 years.

It struck me that it’s this kind of cookbook and the home cooking it celebrates that appeals to me. It’s not what I call ‘entertainment cooking’ - think Gordon Ramsay and Masterchef - but home cooks lovingly preparing a jar of jam or a boiled fruit cake from a stained, dog-eared recipe of Aunty Joan’s. It feels authentic.

I grew up in the country and the annual local show was a much anticipated event. I remember peering through the glass cases at many a sponge and slice in the corrugated iron ‘cooking pavilion’ (more like a shed really). The drape of a blue ribbon across the winning cake was always a sight to behold.

I’ve picked up from Liz’s blog that her book was runner-up (against 50 other finalists) in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, held in Paris at the beginning of July. The category was ‘Easy Recipe Book’  and it was pointed out at the award ceremony that this category is the hardest to win since more than half the cookbooks sold around the world fall into this group. How amazing for Liz to be runner-up!

I’ve ordered the book and hope to chat with Liz when she returns from Paris. I’m sure she has some wonderful stories to share about the people she met whilst doing the book and receiving the award.

I’ll keep you posted.

You can buy The Blue Ribbon Cookbook: Recipes, Stories and Tips from Prizewinning Country Show Cooks here.

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