The Best Designed Cookbooks in the World?

Are you intrigued by the title of this post? The Best Designed Cookbooks in the World? When there are thousands upon thousands of cookbooks being printed every year, who on earth decides which books are the finest? 

Gourmand Awards

The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards have been compared to the “Oscars” for film. They were founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau, and every year they honour the best food and wine books, printed and digital, as well as food television. Entries from 216 countries were accepted in 2018, from hundreds of publishers, authors, chefs and journalists.

Some of our readers may know, by now, that my son, Anthony Hodgson set up Face Publications about 10 years ago, after meeting up with Michelin star chef, Andrew Pern, the chef patron of The Star Inn at Harome, North Yorkshire. No doubt after a glass or two of wine, they came up with the idea of creating not just good, informative cookbooks but beautifully designed ones. But although Andrew was well-known enough in the North of England, he hadn’t been discovered by the TV producers, so well-known publishers of cookbooks probably would only do a cheap, bog-standard type of book.

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Black Pudding & Foie Gras – Andrew Pern – Face Publications

Not to be defeated, they kept their dream alive, and then Anthony decided that not only could he be the designer of the cookbook, he could also be the publisher When he found out how to do that job! Andrew started to write his life story and added more delicious recipes to his repetoire, and guess who was asked to look into how to sell cookbooks around the world. Me!!

I must confess that I have been a cookbook addict for many years now, and Anthony said to me not long ago that cookbooks must be in his genes, as he was surrounded by hundreds of my books all of his young life.

Whilst doing my own research into selling the cookbooks worldwide, I came across the name “Gourmand World Cookbook Awards” and realised that the entry for the 2008 awards had to be in pretty quickly. I think that Anthony was overseeing the printing of “Black Pudding” in Verona, Italy, so sent him the forms to fill in. Although I knew that Anthony was a talented designer, never did I think that he would get anywhere near ‘The Best Designed Cookbooks in the World’.

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Recipe taken from Black Pudding & Foie Gras – Andrew Pern –
Face Publications

The result of this was that Anthony and Andrew’s dream came to fruition, and the first book from Face Publications in May 2008 was Black Pudding & Foie Gras. This enjoyable and stunning cookbook won the following awards:

‘Best UK Chef Book’ Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Paris
‘World’s Best Chef Book’ Silver Award Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Paris
‘Best Book Design’ D&AD, London
‘Best Book and Editorial Design’ ADC Merit, The Art Directors Club, New York
‘Best Book Design’ Top Applications Award, Fedrigoni, Rome
‘Best Food Book’ Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards, Adelaide

Andrew Pern, thrilled by the success of his first book decided that he wanted to do a book on Game. When my son, Anthony, told me that, I remember saying “Oh no, not blood and guts everywhere?” But Anthony was determined his design would make it a beautiful book on that particular subject. And he was right. Andrew’s second book was entitled “Loose Birds & Game’ and it is beautiful.

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Loose Birds & Game – Andrew Pern

‘Best UK Single Subject Book’ Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Paris
‘World’s Best Single Subject Book’ Silver Award, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Paris
‘Best Publication’ Roses Bronze Award, Roses Design Awards, Manchester
‘Best Lifestyle Book’ Shortlisted, British Book Design and Production Awards, London

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Recipe taken from Loose Birds & Game – Andrew Pern –
Face Publications

James Mackenzie was the next chef to contact Anthony at Face Publications. James had worked with Andrew Pern at Harome, but decided the time was right for him to spread out his talents to East Yorkshire, having taken on the beautiful, olde world pub/restaurant, The Pipe and Glass, in South Dalton near Beverley.

“It’s my time to have a cookbook now,” he told Anthony.

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On The Menu – James Mackenzie – Face Publications

So James and Anthony put their heads together and the result was “On The Menu”, an inventive and inspiring very smart cookbook.

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Salt Beef Salad – James Mackenzie from On The Menu

‘Best First Cookbook’ Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Paris
‘Best Lifestyle Book’ Shortlisted, British Book Design and Production Awards, London

The next chef to contact Anthony was the 2 Michelin star chef, Sat Bains, of Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham. Sat is a larger than life chef, and he wanted an autobiographical cookbook, featuring the tasting menus of his restaurant. This is an amazing cookbook of 450 pages and 700 images. Superb photography throughout.

sharingourfoodadventures -Too Many Chiefs Only One Indian – Sat Bains – Face Publications

Take a look at this stunning photography.

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Too Many Chiefs Only One Indian – Sat Bains – Face Publications

Galton Blackiston is a chef I first saw on the Great British Menu a few years ago. When Anthony told me that Galton wanted to talk about a book, I was thrilled. I even loaned him some cookware and pottery for the photoshoot, and jokingly said that I wanted a credit. And  he put me in the credits!! Galton has the wonderful hotel and Michelin star restaurant, at Morston Hall at Holt in Norfolk.

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Hook Line Sinker – Galton Blackiston – Face Publications

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Hook Line Sinker – Galton Blackiston – Face Publications

Galton’s book is about Fish, and the recipes are mouth-watering. Lots of great recipes and superb photography, with something for everyone.

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Hook Line Sinker – Galton Blackiston – Face Publications

AWARDS

— Best UK Fish & Seafood Cookbook, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Paris
— Best Print Design, Shortlisted, The Drum Design Awards – London

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Sex&Drugs&Sausage Rolls – Graham Garrett – Face Publications

Graham Garrett, former Rock star now Michelin star chef of The West House in Kent, was the next chef to get in touch with Anthony about a cookbook. His life story is fascinating, and his recipes are for everyone. This is a very different cookbook, especially the fun title, and once again with superb pictures.

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Sex&Drugs&Sausage
Rolls – Graham Garrett – Face Publications

Because the majority of these cookbooks have had a good deal of publicity and won many awards, some are in short supply.  Black Pudding & Foie Gras, for instance,  has sold out, which is a shame as it is a fabulous story as well as a cookbook. If you can buy it second hand, I would snap it up quickly.

As the owner of many cookbooks, and a Mum as well, obviously I am over the moon to think that my son, Anthony, is the designer of  not only ‘The Best Designed Cookbook in the World’ but he also designed the “Best of the Best’ in the World over the last 20 years – Awarded by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. What a proud Mum.

Hurry if you want to send a Book for Christmas – there is still enough time to get it delivered.

There is a lot more information about the books and authors on Anthony’s Face Publications site and it is worth taking a look at as there are other books on it as well as these above, all of the same quality. Just click on the individual books for lots of info. And there will be more in the future. All books can be posted worldwide – just check on the delivery costs.