5 of the best new cookbooks for summer
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
With more than 3,600 miles of coastline, Croatia's Dalmatia region is intrinsically tied to the sea. This is apparent in its cuisine, where fish and seafood plucked directly from the Adriatic reigns supreme, whether it's delicately sweet and silky oysters or smoky grilled sea bream.
Melbourne-based restaurateur Ino Kuvačić — originally from Split, Dalmatia's largest city — believes the flavours of his homeland deserve to be celebrated. In his latest cookbook, he transports readers to the cobbled streets of the region's medieval towns, offering more than 100 recipes, most of which are designed to be shared.
Classic dishes such as brudet (seafood stew) and splitska pašticada (Split-style beef with red wine, prunes and apples) take centre stage, while small plates, including kozice s pršutom (prawns wrapped in prosciutto with goat's cheese) serve as the perfect introduction to the region's cuisine. To finish, there are indulgent desserts, including Dubrovnik crème caramel, whose French and Spanish origins reflect Dalmatia's rich blend of cultural influences. £25, Hardie Grant.
In her new book, chef and restaurateur Lin celebrates her Malaysian-Scottish heritage. Personal stories explore the interconnectivity of food and identity, while recipes such as chilli crisp puttanesca and kaya croissant-and-butter pudding showcase Lin's innovative approach to Malaysian flavours. £28, Ebury Press.
Food writer Cloake's latest release traces the origins of the most iconic dishes in the US, via a cycle ride across the country. She uncovers the stories behind specialities like crawfish stew, marionberry pie and sauerkraut balls — offering insights into the immigrant communities that have shaped the US's ever-evolving food scene. £16.99, HarperCollins.
Half-Turkish Cypriot, half-British chef Semay's latest book resulted from a solo journey through Turkey, during which he picked up both stories and recipes. Alongside chapters dedicated to bread and mezze are explorations of regional delicacies like Adanan kofte and Gaziantep pistachios. £28, Ebury Press.
Born and raised in Islamabad, food writer Jillani's debut cookbook contextualises Pakistani cuisine through essays on each region. Encompassing Afghan, Chinese, Indian and Iranian influences, the 100-plus recipes include boldly flavoured dishes like spiced chicken dumplings, saffron flatbread and Parsi wedding custard. £26, Hardie Grant.
Published in Issue 28 (summer 2025) of Food by National Geographic Traveller (UK).To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Popular CT mall adds more stores. Here's what they are, but think California-based jewelry
Westfarms, a premier shopping mall located on the town line between Farmington and West Hartford, has earned recent awards and added multiple stores with more in the works. The Hartford Courant's Best of Hartford 2025 annual readers' poll awarded Westfarms its first-place recognition in the shopping center category with four Westfarms stores, including Nordstrom, Warby Parker, Munson's Chocolates and Cotton On Kids, selected as tops in their categories. The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce also selected Westfarms as the 2025 recipient of the Economic Driver of the Year Spotlight Award. 'We're incredibly honored to be recognized by the West Hartford Chamber for our impact on the local economy and to be voted by the Hartford Courant and its readers as one of the region's top shopping destinations,' said Westfarms general manager Elizabeth Ryan in a press release. 'For more than 50 years, Westfarms has been at the center of a vibrant and growing retail community, contributing to the economy and providing a home to more than 140 retailers and restaurants. With over 1,000 community members employed by our tenants, we're proud to be part of a diverse and thriving local workforce. 'This recognition is also a testament to the dedication of our tenants — from innovative first-to-market brands to cherished local favorites — who together make Westfarms a dynamic and welcoming place for shoppers,' Ryan added. Westfarms has added several stores this year including Windsor. The specialty formal apparel retailer for women opened on March 31 in a 4,076-square-foot space on the lower level near Nordstrom just in time for prom and wedding season. Manhattan-based Caffé Arrone opened in April in Center Court featuring organic coffee brews from around the world and a full menu of cafe flavors and teas. It is the company's fifth location. Jamba Juice will move into the mall's lower level this summer. There are 750 locations nationwide and this will be the third in the state. Jamba Juice offers plant-based smoothies, bowls with fresh fruit toppings and foods to go. Zumiez will be opening in the Nordstrom wing this summer in a 2,867-square-foot space. The store offers apparel, footwear, accessories and skateboards and features brands like Affliction, Ed Hardy, Empyre, FB County, Von Dutch and Plan B skateboards. California-based jewelry brand gorjana, best known for interchangeable jewelry pieces, is also opening this summer. The 821-square foot store will be second location in the state. It will be located on the upper level of Center Court. Kay Jewelers has reopened after a store renovation. American Eagle is also going through a redesign and is expected to re-open for the back-to-school shopping season. 'We are proud of our continued growth and commitment to our retailers and shoppers at Westfarms,' Ryan said. 'We remain dedicated to enhancing our shopping experience with first to the area brands and customer favorites that will complement our existing lineup at Westfarms.'
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Land snorkeling? Townsizing? A user's guide to the latest travel lingo
For your next trip, have you considered townsizing? What about choosing a detour destination? And instead of forest-bathing, maybe it's time to give land snorkeling a try. If the terms sound odd, you might need a travel translator. Agencies, online platforms and sometimes travellers themselves have been flexing their creative language skills by labelling trends in travel — some new, some tried-and-true (such as 'bleisure,' a trip that combines business with leisure time). Here are some terms to help you keep up with travel's shifting lexicon: Detour destinations: Last year's destination dupes became this year's detours in Expedia's 2025 trend report. Detour destinations are 'less well-known and less crowded than tourist hot spots,' according to the report. They can be destinations on their own or side trips from a bigger target … for example, pairing Reims with Paris. This practical two-for-one trip concept bundles an appealing neighbour with the closest major airport destination. Townsizing: If there were awards for Wordsmith of the Year, consider Priceline for its addition of 'townsizing.' Your next vacation is townsized if instead of big-city buzz, you opt for small-town vibes in easygoing destinations. Land snorkeling: Think of forest bathing — slow, mindful walks in the woods — and remove the forest, and you have something like land snorkeling. Coined by Montana-based artists Clyde Aspevig and Carol Guzman, land snorkeling in the context of a walk (which could even be in a city) is paying attention to where you are, not necessarily where you're going. It encourages a focus on minute details, the way you might hover over a reef when snorkeling to view the comings and goings of tropical fish and the current's effect on sea fans. 'When you snorkel, you don't go with a destination in mind but go with the water and let (what you are seeing) take over,' Guzman said. 'You wander and you wonder,' Aspevig added. JOMO travel: How to fight FOMO, or fear of missing out? Change your point of view with JOMO — joy of missing out — by embracing a vacation that prioritizes relaxing and ditching your phone. Vacation rental company VRBO proposed this mindset switch, citing 85 per cent of respondents to a company survey who declared an interest in taking a vacation to unplug. Live tourism: In its 2025 trends forecast, travel news site Skift came up with 'live tourism' to refer to the increase in the number of people booking trips around live events in entertainment, sports and natural phenomena. In 2024, few events were bigger travel motivators than the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, the Paris Olympic Games and the total solar eclipse. The next total solar eclipse is expected to pass over Iceland, Portugal and Spain on Aug. 12, 2026. Start planning now! Mystery tour: The magic of mystery tours, according to operators, lies in surrendering to the unknown and avoiding the quandary of choice. High-end agency Black Tomato has a Get Lost service that offers clients journeys to unspecified destinations and the opportunity to find their way out of the wilderness (under a safe watch from afar, they say). The company has organized mystery trips — which are fully customized, but tend to run five to seven nights — in Mongolia, Morocco, Norway and Guatemala. EF Go Ahead Tours launched its Mystery Tours last year and said it sold out within three hours. Past trips have included Bali and Java in Indonesia. The 2025 slate of unspecified trips are on sale now (from $3,016 for an eight-day tour). Noctourism: If it's a travel adventure you have at night — from swimming in phosphorescent bays to stargazing — then it's also known as noctourism. While it's hardly new, trend forecasters are finding renewed interest in after-dark activities, sometimes as a strategy to beat the heat. cited noctourism in its 2025 forecast, noting that 54 per cent of travellers surveyed in a recent study planned to increase their nighttime activities to avoid daytime temperatures. 'No matter the outing, the cover of darkness adds a sense of adventure and mystery,' said Stephanie Vermillion, the author of the new book '100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Adventures After Dark.' Noctourism activities she covers include catching 'moonbows' or lunar rainbows seen through a waterfall's spray at places such as Victoria Falls in southern Africa, seeing a lava flow in Indonesia, and browsing night markets in Taiwan. Phenomenon chasing: Separate natural phenomenon from live tourism and you have phenomenon chasing. Black Tomato cites rising interest in natural events such as the northern lights and solar eclipses among travellers willing to go far and wide to see them in person. 'In a world that can feel overly digital and predictable, there's something incredible about witnessing a rare natural event,' said Rob Murray-John, the head of special projects at Black Tomato. 'These moments let us strip away the noise and immerse in something that feels both intimate and vast, like you're a small part of something much bigger.' This article originally appeared in The New York Times .
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Spain launches another tax raid on British holidaymakers
Are you a holiday let owner affected by the Spanish government's new tax? Get in touch money@ Spain's socialist government is planning a tax raid on British holiday let-owners in the country. The ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party wants to charge 21pc VAT on stays of less than 30 days – more than double the rate paid by hotels. It comes as Madrid lawmakers take aim at foreign property investors as part of efforts to tackle high housing costs. Draft legislation put before the Spanish parliament would raise taxes on owners of short-term tourist rentals from the current rate of zero. The suggested 21pc levy is more than double the 10pc paid by hotels. Unveiling the new bill last month, housing minister Isabel Rodriguez said: 'Homes are for living in [...] the measures seek to guarantee the right to rental housing for families.' The proposed change is part of the same legal push to impose a 100pc purchase tax on the sale of Spanish property to non-European Union buyers and also includes higher taxes for second homes and vacant properties. Alex Radford, partner at Spain-based law firm English Solicitor & Abogado, said: 'The VAT has got more chance of being implemented than the 100pc tax on a property bought by a non-European.' He said that if approved, the bill would likely increase the cost of holidays and lead to fewer available holiday lets in Spain. 'We would envisage that the rental [market] is going to be slightly more expensive. If owners have to add 21pc VAT to the cost of a rental, then we would expect rentals to decrease and people will look at other countries.' 'It's still early days and we don't know what will get approved and what will not,' Mr Radford added. Millions of Britons who visit and live in Spain face losing out because of the new laws, which will undergo scrutiny and potentially amendment before being voted on in the second half of this year. There were more than 260,000 British expats living in Spain at the last official count in 2020, while it received 1.6 million tourists from the UK – more than any other country – during the busy April period last year, according to the Spanish statistics agency. Robert Amsterdam, partner Amsterdam & Associates, a law firm that has campaigned against higher Spanish taxes, said: 'The Spanish government is diverting the attention of the Spanish people away from the government's behaviour and they're coming up with the British as enemy number one.' Most estimates place the number of British people who own property in Spain between 800,000 and one million. A figure for the number of British holiday let-owners in the country was not available. British non-residents bought 3,480 homes in Spain in the first half of 2024, making up 38pc of a total of 9,166 properties sold to non-resident non-EU buyers, according to the latest available figures from the General Council of Spanish Notaries and Spanish Property Insight. Growing anti-tourist sentiment in Spain has already seen cities like Malaga and Madrid capping new licences for holiday lets, while Barcelona will ban them completely by 2028. Spanish media reported in January that Barcelona's plans would cost €1.9bn (£1.6bn) and lose the city around 40,000 jobs, based on a report by consultancy PWC. The country's minority coalition government has defended a crackdown on foreign property investors and holiday let-owners as necessary to make more housing available for Spanish people. There is a deficit of 450,000 homes across Spain, according to a Bank of Spain report published this week. In popular tourist destinations like the Canary and Balearic Islands half the housing stock is either holiday lets for tourists or homes owned by foreigners, it said. Javier Peñate, a legal adviser to a holiday homeowners association in the Canary Islands, told Reuters: 'The sole objective is to put an end to these activities and leave [tourism] in the hands of hoteliers.' Short-term rentals in the province already pay 7pc VAT, as do hotels.
