Chef Books

Like the stalwart bar of the same name,Eat at the Bar makes readers feel at once at home and familiar _ even if they have not ever ventured to Bar Lourinha, beloved for its food, booze, collectors' feel and old-fashioned hospitality. It is first a cookbook, sharing 55 recipes inspired by local farmers, providores, fishmongers and suppliers, and underpinned by the flavours author Matt McConnell continues to cook with today: garlic, pimento, salt and the best olive oil. The line-up is a best of the best from more than 10 years of Matt's respected repertoire of tapas and raciones.

The book is also more than recipes: it is part travelogue too, sharing anecdotes, narrative and stunning photography from the authors' adventures in Spain, Portugal and Europe over many years _ experiences that inspired the idea and philosophy of the now decade-old space they have created in their hometown of Melbourne.

Lateral Cooking is, in a sense, the 'method' companion to its bestselling predecessor, The Flavour Thesaurus - and is just as useful, ingeniously organised and enjoyable to read.

The book is divided into 12 chapters, each covering a basic culinary category, such as 'Bread', 'Sauces' or 'Custard'. The recipes in each chapter are then arranged on a continuum, the transition from one recipe to another generally amounting to a tweak or two in the method or ingredients. Which is to say, one dish leads to another: once you've got the hang of flatbreads, for instance, then its neighbouring dishes on the continuum (crackers, soda bread, scones) will involve the easiest and most intuitive adjustment. The result is greater creativity in the kitchen: Lateral Cooking encourages improvisation, resourcefulness, and, ultimately, the knowledge and confidence to cook by heart.

Lateral Cooking is essentially a practical book, but like The Flavour Thesaurus it's also a highly enjoyable read. The 'Flavours & Variations' sections, for example, draw widely on culinary science, history, ideas from professional kitchens, observations by renowned food writers and personal recollection. Entertaining, opinionated and inspirational, Lateral Cooking will have you torn between donning your apron and settling back in a comfortable chair.

In Supernormal the cookbook based on the eponymous Melbourne restaurant Andrew McConnell, owner and head chef, takes home cooks into the kitchen of his hugely popular pan-Asian eatery. Across eight chapters, he shares something of the McConnell magic, satisfying fans who aspire to a Supernormal-worthy spread at home. The book's charm also stems from the artful photographs from Earl Carter, who offers a behind-the-scenes take on the restaurant and its characters, as well as scenes from Tokyo, a long-time source of inspiration for McConnell and his Flinders Lane eating house.