African Kitchen - Tapa dura

Presented as a journal-cum-photo-album, Flavours of Africa is the first book to combine the thrill of the outdoors with the excitement of pan-African cooking. African food is bold and colourful, with rich, earthly textures and strong, spicy undertones. It is natural and honest, without pretence. Arab merchants, European colonists and Malay slaves have all influenced Africa's native cooking, resulting in a cuisine diverse and yet simple to prepare. Familiar ingredients: chicken, chillies, corn, couscous, fish, peanuts, plantain and potatoes, all widely available in today's supermarkets are combined in delicious and fun new ways.In the home kitchen this translates into ideas for all meal occasions: breakfast and brunch dishes, picnic and barbecue food, lunchbox ideas, soups, salads, snacks, party hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, plus breads, desserts and sweet baking.

English-born Josie Stow was a private chef to the family of children's author Roald Dahl before moving to Africa to work for some of the continent's leading safari reserves, including Makalali and Tswalu Desert Reserve. Her innovative menus incorporate authentic recipes and ingredients from all over Africa, seasoned with Josie's unique sense of fun. Photographer Jan Baldwin has been a close friend of Josie since they worked together on the successful book Recipes from Gypsy House. Jan is one of Britain's leading food and interior photographers and her work appears regularly in World of Interiors, Harpers & Queen and leading national newspapers. She has travelled extensively throughout Africa and won awards for her landscape pictures.