Photograph from
Holiday by Bill
Granger, published
by Murdoch Books, photography by
Petrina Tinslay |
Bill Granger
Holiday
Born in Melbourne, Bill lived there until he was nineteen when he moved to Sydney. As an art student who loved food, he started working as a waiter part-time and his focus gradually shifted from art to food. "Not being a trained chef I’ve gained my knowledge from eating, reading and experiencing food," says Bill who at only 22 found the site where his first restaurant, bills, now stands. After the success of bills, bills 2 opened in 1996. Both are now established landmarks. Bill Granger is the author of several bestselling cookbooks, his latest release is Holiday.
1. What is the best opening line to a book you've read?
"I have this little sister, Lola. She is small and very funny" from Charlie and Lola. With that line I can calm my children from total chaos.
2. Describe for us the place where you wrote the majority of your book.
At our kitchen table that sits in the middle of our kitchen, covered with food, homework, toys, a laptop, recipes, reference material, door flung open, smell of gardenia and frangipani wafting in, the sounds of children playing. A white room, not large, beautiful Italian kitchen, very inviting and relaxing, all the tools I need to experiment.
3. What is your earliest memory involving cookbooks?
It has to be the Women's Weekly Dinner Party Cookbook, which was my bible from ages 7 to 10, from which I faithfully recreated most dishes, including the chocolate strawberry box.
4. What is one cookbook you always recommend to your friends and why?
Most recently it has been Nigel Slater's The Kitchen Diaries, because it is totally achievable and it takes you on a food journey. It is also a beautiful book, perfect size and format to either be read in bed or used in the kitchen.
5. If they were writing your biography, what would be the last line?
Too morbid for me, I always enjoy the present and get excited by the future.
|
