13 April 2013

OMNIVORE BOOKS

If you're going to San Francisco, don't miss Omnivore Books. It well may be the best little specialty bookstore in the world. There's not much owner Celia Sack doesn't know about cookbooks and her shelves and display tables are crammed with new releases, wonderful all-time best selling cookbooks, literary food writing and a huge selection of collectors' cook books.

When I was there this week for a book signing event for my new memoir, Everlasting Feast, (see the book featured in the window in my photo) I was intrigued to learn book collector Mark Cherniavsky (husband of Anne Willan) had been in and made quite a few purchases. Celia was honoured and excited for, as she said, she knows those books have now gone to a very special collection and will be safe for ever!

I could spend a week or two there browsing the shelves, but had very little time as there was so much fun to be had; a talk on New Zealand food and wine to quite a crowd who attended. The questions came thick and fast about our food and culture, and the two recipes they most wanted to hear about were bacon and egg pie and pavlova. (Luckily both recipes are in Everlasting Feast along with 98 more of my favourite things to eat.)

The Saint Clair sauvignon blanc and pinot noir wines blew everyone away with their fresh, zingy New Zealand intensity, and Celia sold a heap of books ahead of the release this coming week. Don't miss this wonderful place that keeps cook books so alive. Thanks Celia.

Omnivore Books, 3885a Cesar Chavez, San Francisco, T415 282 4712.

And sign up for Celia's newsletter to keep up with what's new and worthy. www.omnnivorebooks.com