Misti Traya

Food writer

This book was the first time I read any of Elizabeth David's writing. I was ten weeks pregnant and on holiday in France and feeling rather ill when I found it on a shelf. From page one, I felt like I had entered conversation with a friend. David’s tales are so intriguing not only because of the delicious food she consumes or the vibrant characters she meets, but because of the way she sets the stage. She had the eye of an art historian and could describe venues like Old Master paintings. Of course, her recipes are exquisite. The daube de boeuf Provencal is my favorite.

Neale Whitaker

Editor in Chief for Vogue Living Australia and judge on The Block