Isn’t this weather just perfect for curling up with a good book? I have to literally be dragged out of the house nowadays because I’m usually attached to a book or the lounge deep in a book. If you’re racing through books as much as I am, I have a new one for you! It’s called High Season by Jim Hearn and it’s not your regular sort of memoir. It’s described as “Kitchen Confidential meets Underbelly: The Golden Mile” it is the story of a working class boy who became a chef and who now also a scriptwriter. He addiction to heroin and his experience cooking for Paris Hilton fills the book and this is his first memoir published by the fabulous folks at Allen & Unwin!
Thanks to Allen & Unwin, eight lucky Not Quite Nigella readers will win a copy of High Season by Jim Hearn worth $22.99 each! For a chance to win all you have to do is tell me which chef or celebrity memoir you would most like to read and why! Simply add your answer as a comment to the story. The competition ends at midnight AEST on the 5th of August, 2012. You can enter this competition once daily and it is open to anyone within Australia.
Best of luck!
Lots of love,
Lorraine
xxx
***The winners are:
Lauren W. of NSW
Sharon M. of Qld
Rachel K. of Vic
Lyn R. of NSW
Joanne T. of SA
Mary P. of Qld
Marie-Alice A. of NSW
Sue M. of WA***
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95 Comments | Add your own
Sounds like great reading Lorraine. I do love the rags to riches stories.
Does Paris Hilton eat? Good grief, she certainly doesn’t look like it.
You should try to make a deal with Chapters, here in Canada to ship books directly from a local store so the contest could be open to Canadians too!
High Season
Hi Lorraine! I would love to read a biography of Jane Tibble, she works out at Longitude 131* near Uluru. I think her story would be fascinating! There’s some amazing country out there. Think of all the unique resources she must have at her fingertips. Also I think we should support Australian female chefs as much as possible
Awww only Aussies can win. =/
be interesting to read about this guy who i must admit i hadnt heard of…
What a great read, Lorraine. And I am not even participating in the giveaway, I just love to read. How funny, the weather in both hemispheres makes you want to grab a book and read-read-read… Well, with a book worm in me, I can find an excuse to read anytime in any weather…:) Going to Amazon to check out this title…
I would like to read Jackie Chan’s memoirs. I would like to know what I was like for him to be an actor in China and I want to know how he learnt and maintains his amazing skills. Also he seams like a really nice person!
This is such a cool giveaway
If I could read any memoir it would be Heston Blumenthal – that man is actually genius and knowing what makes his mind tick would be awesome!
Cheers
CCU
jamie oliver’s because he makes such wonderful simple meals that anybody can do at home
Hmmmmm, marco pierre white would be a good read, might explain why he’s so intimidating and down right scary. Also adriano zumbo – why is someone so cute a chef and not a model? Books? Yes I’m also ploughing through many, and this certainly sounds more interesting than the 50 shades that I succumbed to out of curiosity and I still wonder why!
I am currently reading ‘The Accidental Foodie’ By Neale Whitaker which contains stories of 23 chefs and how they came to ‘fall’ into the food industry. A fascinating insight and well worth reading for all lovers of anything related to food! Always room on my shelves for a foodie book……..
Agree, fabulous time of year to be curled up on lounge with a good book.
This one by Jim Hearn sounds a lot more interesting than the norm! A bit of intrigue & drama with a nice recipe here & there perhaps.
I’m a little greedy, why stop at one….someone should publish a collection of stories from various chefs!
Gosh there are so many! I suppose Heston’s story is the one I’d like to know more about. How did he get from a kid who liked to eat to a superstar who thought making edible wallpaper was a good idea?
I love to find out what makes people tick, so maybe Heston- he has a fascinating mind indeed!
Sounds like an amazing read! Thanks for sharing!!!
Have a great weekend!
http://thesquishymonster.com
Twitter @aSquishyMonster
For a long while I had Humble Pie by Gordon Ramsay on my list and finally read it last month an interesting read indeed!
And anything by Heston would be a treat!
Heston Blumenthal is the King of freakishly delicious scientific ways of preparing food. The master of surprise each and every meal time. I would love to know his life, story, mistakes, demands, results. Simply an amazing creative mastermind.
I would love to know more about Curtis Stone.
Definitely Nigella Lawson- without formal training and just an everywoman’s passion for food, she has built herself an empire which, while remaining feminine and unpretentious, is revered by people around the world, including amateur cooks such as myself. Nigella inspires me!
WHAT an interesting read!
My heart, mind and stomach, the story would feed!
Marco Pierre White!!!!!!!
He DOES delight AND fright!
Softly spoken, like Sir Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, TRUE!
BEYOND words, HOW he brings out THE BEST of what people can offer, even if they initially do not know they CAN do! Love to meet him too! WHOO HOO!
I would love to read this book by Jim Hearn as it looks quite interesting. I’m sure there would be plenty of good recipes to try as well.
Had not heard of book nor author, which makes the volume very appealing to a reading junkie like me! And that from childhood on! Mom used to exclaim in frustration ‘For God’s sake, do close that book – you can’t read everything printed in your lifetime!’. Well, I am still trying
! Mmhh? After my experience with Marco Pierre White on ‘Masterchef’ I would agree with Gin-tonic that it would be fascinating to find out what makes him tick and what he has been thru’ in his lifetime 
!
What an interesting life. It sounds like this book would be a very good read. And yes, I’m home with the flu (when will it end) huddled over the heater and reading. No point going out – too cold! xx
I’m in line to read Gordon Ramsey’s as soon as a friend finishes it.
How about Maggie Beer,Donna Hay,some of our homegrown cooks!simply because they are great realistic recipes to follow,and Im sure both have an interesting story to tell.
Gary Rhodes has always been a favourite of mine. I’d love to hear how he started and what his life was before his advent into cooking.
It sounds like a great book!
This one sounds awesome, however a it would be a close-run thing between Jim Hearn and Marco Pierre White. Both incredibly interesting men, in their own way
I would love to read Nigella Lawson’s memoir and even though I think there is a book like that out there I heard its not the best!
I love the way she cooks, eats and portrays herself!
Gary Rhodes – as i’m a bit of a ‘Rhodes Scholar’!
Donna Hay – like her I want to make ‘hay’ while the sun shines!
I’d love to read a memoir from the head chef from Queen Elizabeth’s household. Just imagine, not just the day to day, but all those magnificent State dinners. Fabulous!!
Decisions,decisions- like choosing dishes from an enticing menu- this time the chefs are the dishes! I think an unabridged version of Gordon Ramsey’s memoirs would be f@#*&%g brilliant
What a great competition Lorraine. There would be 2 actually Marcella Hazan, who already has one and I should really read it but the other, for the purpose of this competition is Antonio Carluccio.. why you ask? He has been a great teacher to many of the Italian Cuisine (e.g.Jamie Oliver) but also has an interesting personal life which I think inspires his cooking and restaurants. His ups and downs. Failed marriages, his regret of not having children, depression, describing his restaurants as his children. I am thinking he has experienced quite a bit in life, both good and bad. I wonder how much of this has reflected in his cooking.
All of the above appeal however I think the Margaret Fulton story and her rise to fame, cooking career and all of her trademark cookbooks would make fascinating reading. It’s a wonder they haven’t made a doco on her.
Really difficult ask here, Lorraine as I don’t care too much about celebrities, but I think a good read would be a historical figure such as Sir Winston Churchill and his inspirational speeches and his never give up attitude.
OMG I just found out Carluccio has a memoir coming out in OCT! YAY!
Thanks for the recommendation, I’m always on the lookout for the next book to read.
As for a chef’s memoir, I’d like to read about Luke Nguyen’s story (Red Lantern, Sydney). His restaurants contain pictures of family and personal touches, so I imagine he has an interesting story to tell.
I can’t believe I haven’t read it as I’m a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain so I have to say ‘kitchen confidential’
Thanks
I would love to read about the queen and what she eats every night i bet its relly fancy stuff
I am a great fan of Nigella! The other one, Lorraine! She has had an interesting though sad life with her first husband and father of her two children dying of throat cancer – so he couldn’t eat her food. Her father was in the House of Commons I think so she has a special upbringing! She also used to go out with Geoffrey Robertson. I love the way she enjoys her food and feeing people she loves and doesn’t worry about being a size 6! The Devil in the Kitchen by Marco Pierre White is a wonderful and interesting read and I also enjoy Anthony Bourdain’s books and those of AA Gill! Has Peggy Porschen written a book! My favourite books to read besides cook books are books about cooks! And we all await yours too!
I would like to read a memoir of the life of the very amusing Docteur Edouard De Pomiane. Wrote COOKING IN 10 MINUTES & COOKING WITH POMIANE, with a forewood by Elizabeth David. As a dietician, & a professor at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, he made a study of the science of cooking & was incredibly funny when writing, & on radio, about food.His recipes, a delight, as he tried to break down all food pomposity in a very amusing & carefree way- “the absurdity inherent in the accepted order of the classic meal,a pointless adherence to a long outdated tradition”. Fish AND meat!!? He understood the limited budget & time constraints of busy lives but the importance & necessity of ‘deliciousness’.
Rick Stein with fingers in Padstow,England and Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia has some 16 books published and all his recipes work and his writings are great. His latest book Rick Stein’s Spain is delightfully delicious. Your offering of “HIgh season” looks as if it could be a great read of behind the kitchen scenes. Bring it to me!
I’ve checked this book out on line at Allen and unwin and it has a quote from Heston on the cover.. So I would like to read hestons biography and high season and see what the connection is… Can’t wait to read high season!
I am dying to read this very book, it sounds such a good read. I’d also find Gordon Ramsay’s autobiography very interesting I think
Oh wow this is GREAT! There’s so many people in the industry and business that I really respect and I don’t know where to begin. But Jamie Oliver is one of those people who REALLY inspires me both in the kitchen and also his heart for people.
I have the most amazing vegetarian cookbook that was written by a little known author. I bought it many years ago before vegetarian eating was en vouge and it’s tattered and oil splattered, and still pulled out occasionally when I want some good old fashioned veggie food. The author wasn’t into shortcuts in writing and that’s so rare in cooking these days. I would love to know more about this woman that’s shared my kitchen all these years.
I’d think Gabriel Gaté would write a terrific memoir. I’d love to read about where his love of cooking began and developed, written with his ever-present positivity and humour.
American chef Nick Kokonas’ story “Life, on the Line” would be an interesting read! At the peak of his career he was diagnosed with tongue cancer which, apart from being life threatening, resulted in him losing his sense of taste! Quite important for a chef! Not wanting to be kept down he trained his chefs to mimic his palate and learned how to cook with his other senses! Later he received the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Chef in America Award.
I am going to purchase this book and read it because apart from my culinary interest I am always looking for inspirational stories like this to motivate myself and, more importantly, my husband who was diagnosed with lung cancer late last year. He is finding it hard to cope mentally as well as physically. It really helps to read or talk to others in similar situations who find the positives and fight for a better life and ultimately their own survival!
I’ve recently become hooked on Anthony Bourdain. I can’t wait to pick up a copy of his memoir!
Ian Curley – a hard road to success that teaches an ‘old dog can change it’s tricks’ is a lesson to be learnt
I am sure this would be nice read..
I always find biographies so inspiring, just to know a little bit about people and their journey always makes own journey a little more easier!!
“Blood, Bones and Butter” by Gabrielle Hamilton is a great read though she is fairly ubknown in Australia though she was here last year for the SMH International Festival! She had a restaurant in NYC called “Prune” but it tells of her fairly unusual life but brilliantly written! Have you read it? But I would also like to read a biographies by Matthew Evans who worked as a food writer for the SMH and relocated in Tasmania for a few different lifestyle….and also Paris Cutler – “our” Paris as her cakes from her establishment in Balmain are extraordinary works of art!
I would love to read the memoirs of ‘Gabriel Gaté ‘our first french chef who took Australia by storm and won everyones’ heart. He seems to be a little overshadowed by Manu Fieldel these days, but Gabriel still rules in my book
My pet hate is recipe books that will show an ingredient in the recipe but forget to tell you when to use it in the description,its quite annoying when you’re not sure when to use it.
Would love to read of Heston’s “experiments” and how he came to use them.
Heston’s! To try and understand why so many chefs seem to kick their wives to the kerb for a sexy younger food critic!
I would love to read about Nigella Lawson, her sucess without any formal training is to be applauded.
Has to be Heston Blumenthal with his quirky and innovative menus and grand ideas.
Jamie Oliver’s – cause the guy really does some fabulous stuff with people and food!
I would love to read Jamie Oliver’s story – I just love his down to earth way of trying to make the world a healthier place. then again the Barefoot Contessa (Ina Gaarden) always makes me want to eat on the beach, or out in the garden. mmm tough choice!
I agree with Amanda, Ian Curley would make a great read. But I’m waiting for Fergus Henderson (Nose to Tail). His food philosophy comes through in his cookbooks and his memoir would be a fascinating read.
I would like to read Gordon Ramsay’s memoirs – so much success and failure in one lifetime – that has to be a good read!
One of my favourite books I received for last birthday was “At Home on the Range”! We all remember the author Elizabeth Gilbert and “Eat Pray Love” and this is a book written by her great grandmother Margaaret Yardley Potter has been re-published by Elizabeth and it is intersting and amusing reading! I would like to read a biography about the ‘foodie couple’ Jill Dupleix and her husband Terry Durack. Jill was a food writer for an English newspaper and has written some great cook books and I always admire Terry’s honest food comments. I use Jill’s friand recipe often and particularly her “Lighten Up” cookbook.
I’d want to read about Gregg Duncan Powell & his adventures as a poor surfer spending an entire month living off cabbage. Which actually happened.
I would love to read about Nick Nairn’s experiences: what encouraged him to take up cooking, his numerous television appearances, and who is his favourite person to cook for.
Memoirs of the great Prosper Montagné who revolutionised cooking as we know it today. Many a young chef has surely flicked through Larousse Gastronomique in awe. It would be wonderful to read his biography and then have famous chefs the world over comment and contribute as to how this book has inspired them.
Yours Lorraine, how you became so utterly amazing at photography and how your culinary skills developed and where the love of cooking grew from. What a wonderful read for a cold winter day that would make. So, when will you start?
heston blumenthal, I think he is so creative and he would have the most amazing story as to how he started and where his passion comes from. Hopefully he could impart some on me!
One of my sons did a college exhange in the US a few years ago and met two other Aussies also studying. Now that they have graduated they are going to spend a few months hiring a van and attending various sporting games at different venues. I thought that it would be wonderful to do something similiar but visiting various ‘food trucks’ which seem to serve fun and exciting food. Has anyone written a book with suggestions of where to go and what to eat. I know that they would change regularly but that would be a great blog (for you maybe). I loved “Mission Street Food’which tells of a mixed race couple who set up a van in….Mission Street in San Francisco,California!
I am pleased to see they are starting to pop-up (so to speak) in Sydney and hopefully they will continue to do so! Is there such a cook book/guide to eating ‘street food from trucks’
Gordon Ramsay, to get to know the man behind the camera. Away from all the huff and puff and foul mouthed temper….I know there’s an angel hiding deep within, and want to know more about this amazing whiz in the kitchn.
I want to read about how Tetsuya started cooking those exotic degustation goodies!
I would love to read about Heston’s disastrous outcomes when creating a new dish.
I’d love to read about the lives of the Hairy Bikers, what brought them to their love of cooking and how they developed their expertise.
I totally agree with Lauren who suggested “Jane Tibble, who works out at Longitude 131* near Uluru.”
Several reasons for this:
1) I love the idea of how chefs in such isolated places source produce and cope with the isolation and environment they are living and working in. Australia has such harsh landscapes and the tryanny of distance, must be really challenging for chefs in remote areas.
2) Also, as Lauren said, I also think “we should support Australian female chefs as much as possible”
Most celebrity chefs and most books I’ve read are set in restaurants are fun of macho argy-bargy yelling and bravardo, so it must be a tough workplace for women.
Maybe NQN could do some interviews with up-and-coming women who cook for a living and what their lives are like. I’d love to read some of their stories.
Gordon Ramsay…love him or *&$#@ hate him…there’s no denying he’s an awesome $#@#$@ cook!
Willie Harcour-cooze’s, because I’m a chocoholic and what he has done with the bean to bar idea and using chocolate in savoury dishes is amazing and inspiring
I’d love to read a memoir of Heston Blumenthal – the way he thinks is just so interesting & out there! Would love to know more about his background too & how he came to be the chef/scientist he is today!
SIMPLY AWESOME. THANKYOU.
Maggie beer, there’s gotta be some hardship and dark secrets hidden behind those smiles and joyful demeanour heh
Hi How about you Not quite Nigella!!!! We enjoy your everyday writings but I am sure their is a memoir in there!!! Your life sounds very interesting. Go for it!!!! In the meantime I would love a copy of this book….have tried to sneak Cookbooks into my book club before but havent got away with it.. This could be the one!! Happy reading everyone
I would like to read a momoir on Oprah Winfrey. What a big life she has lived im sure she would have wonderful stories to tell and a lot of wisdom to share.
I think chef Luke Nguyen would have an interesting background, as well as lots of stories from his cooking & travels, so I’d love to read his memoir
Speaking of Heston, it would def be him. I think he has such an interesting and inspiring story!
Dave Myers and Si King of the Hairy Bikers! Bikers who are passionate about cooking and baking- their memoir would definitely be an interesting read.
I think John Torode of the original version of MasterChef would have an interesting story to tell. Have loved watching this show on Pay TV in the past
I would most like to read Willie Harcour-cooze’s, because I’m a chocoholic and what he has done with the bean to bar idea and using chocolate in savoury dishes is amazing and inspiring
I would love to read a biography of the late Chef James Beard. I know one has been written but I always forget to look for it whilst shopping.
High Season
Maggie Bear..her jolly personality has a life story behind it i’d love to read about!
Gordon Ramsay – I think it’s always interesting to hear his story
Ive been looking for George Harrison’s autobiography for a while, to no avail, I am a huge fan of his music and mind…
After meeting Manu Fieldel in person recently and finding him an absolute delight – I would love to read his memoir, it would be délicieux!
Gordon Ramsey. I love the cooking but am not a fan of the person. Reading his book would be much better than having to watch his show to learn about his cooking!
Rowan Atkinson’s memoirs would no doubt provide a hilarious and inspiring read of how one can overcome schoolyard bullying and use their facial features to make them a world famous multi-millionaire!
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