An author with Hawke's Bay connections has won the Best New Zealand Cookbook in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards with his book Me'a Kai: The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific.
Robert Oliver, whose parents Dennis and Jean Oliver live in Havelock North, is thrilled with the award.
"Amazing, huh! It
was such a Pacific community effort on the road, and then a family effort back in Hawke's Bay," he said.
"Mum and Dad and I spent many an hour together trimming, editing, recipe testing ... who would have known our little book would do so well.
"I have never thought of this book as 'my' book, and I know the same goes for co-author Dr Tracy Berno and photographer Shiri Ram. This book is a celebration of the Pacific Islands and its people, and the true stars of the book are all whose recipes, insights, secrets, stories and smiles are what has made the book click."
The book will now go on to represent New Zealand in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2010.
