Many congratulations to Jasper Morris MW and the team behind his book Inside Burgundy, published by Berry Bros, for winning drinks book of the year at last night's presentation of the André Simon awards.
Food book of the year was The Flavour Thesaurus by Niki Segnit, published by Bloomsbury, with a special commendation going to The Edible Series, published by Reaktion Books.
Trailblazing bon viveur and author André Simon was my colleague Hugh Johnson's mentor. The two of them are pictured here. He gives his name to annual awards for the best food and drink books published in the previous year. Every year the trustees are joined by a food and drink book advisor.
The shortlisted books in the André Simon Food And Drink Book Awards 2010, advised by Rosemary Stark for food books and Anthony Quinn for drinks books, were:
FOOD BOOKS
Cured by Lindy Wildsmith, published by Jacqui Small
Food from Plenty by Diana Henry, published by Mitchell Beazley
Hix Oyster and Chop House by Mark Hix, published by Quadrille
Real Food from Near and Far by Stevie Parle, published by Quadrille
Saraban by Greg and Lucy Malouf, published by Hardie Grant
The Flavour Thesaurus by Niki Segnit, published by Bloomsbury
The Edible Series, published by Reaktion Books
DRINKS BOOKS
Grogan's Companion to Drink by Peter Grogan, published by Virgin Books
Inside Burgundy by Jasper Morris, published by BB&R
Reading between the Wines by Terry Theise, published by University of California Press
Wine Myths and Reality by Benjamin Lewin, published by Vendange Press