• For the Greek community, Easter is a time for family, food and tradition. It’s a feast. A Feast of the Gods, if you will. There is a moment of silence. The deeply comforting aroma of garlic lingers in the air, almost tangible, and Nick Papadopoulos stands in the kitchen surveying counters full of food. His wife, Katia, stands to one side and his business partner, Eric Edwards, flanks the other. It too is like a marriage as they’ve worked and cooked together for 22 years. As if on cue, Nick’s parents arrive and conversation erupts in Greek. They stop to cast…

    By Jane Lawson (Murdoch Books)Reviewed by Kate TurnerSelf-confessed ‘Japanophile’, Jane Lawson, captures the restorative power of Japanese food in this superb collection of Japanese recipes. Finding herself stressed and unhappy, Jane retreats to peaceful Kyoto to seek balance and equilibrium in her life. What she haps upon is the artistry of Japanese cuisine, the wizardry concealed by pluming pots. Jane explores the concept of zenbu zen (everything is zen) and compiles this coffee-table book equivalent to a raked zen garden.

    Print Recipe Flat beans, baby marrow and mixed spice stew Ingredients 30ml (2 tbsp) coconut oil 30ml (2 tbsp) ground cumin 10ml (2 tsp) ground coriander 10ml (2 tsp) ground cinnamon 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 350g flat beans 300g baby marrow, sliced 2 x 410g tins Italian peeled tomatoes, chopped 250ml (1 cup) chicken
    Print Recipe Chermoula-coated grilled silvers Ingredients 2kg silvers, cleaned Chermoula 200g salted butter 2 garlic cloves, crushed 45ml (3 tbsp) fresh coriander rind of 2 limes and juice of 1 lime 15ml (1 tbsp) ground cumin 5ml (1 tsp) smoked paprika salt, to taste carrots, julienned, to serve baby marrow, to serve 1 lemon, cut