André Simon Food & Drink Book Awards shortlist revealed

The shortlist for the 2019 André Simon Food & Drink Book Awards has been revealed with 16 titles in the running for the £2,000 prizes. 

The nominated books celebrate the best of contemporary food and drink writing and were selected from over 150 submissions. The winner of each category will be awarded £2,000 with an award of £1,500 in honour of John Avery and the Special Commendation Award of £1,500 also up for grabs. 

A Cheesemonger’s History of The British Isles by Ned Palmer will go head to head with Profile Books stablemate The Forager's Calendar: A Seasonal Guide to Nature’s Wild Harvests by John Wright in the food category. Hardie Grant also scored a double in the food shortlist with both The Whole Fish Cookbook: New Ways to Cook, Eat and Think by Josh Niland and Tokyo Stories: A Japanese Cookbook by Tim Anderson recognised. 

Burma: Food, Family & Conflict by Bridget Anderson and Stephen Anderson (Ma Khin Markets); Leaf: Lettuce, Greens, Herbs, Weeds—Over 120 Recipes that Celebrate Varied, Versatile Leaves by Catherine Phipps (Quadrille); and The Turkish Cookbook by Musa Dağdeviren (Phaidon Press) also made the shortlist alongside The Vinegar Cupboard: Recipes and History of an Everyday Ingredient by Angela Clutton (Bloomsbury Absolute) and The Way We Eat Now by Bee Wilson (Fourth Estate). 

In the drink category, A Brief History of Lager: 500 Years of the World’s Favourite Beer by Mark Dredge (Kyle Books) is up against Christie's Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine (4th edition) by Tom Stevenson and Essi Avellan MW (Bloomsbury Absolute) and Drinkology: The Science of What We Drink and What It Does to Us, from Milks to Martinis by Alexis Willett (Robinson).   

Tales of the Tea Trade: The Secret to Sourcing and Enjoying the World's Favourite Drink by Michelle and Rob Comins (Pavilion Books); Wines of the French Alps: Savoie, Bugey and Beyond with Local Food and Travel Tips by Wink Lorch (Wine Travel Media); The World Atlas of Wine (8th edition) by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson (Mitchell Beazley) and Wine Simple: A Totally Approachable Guide from a World-Class Sommelier by Aldo Sohm with Christine Muhlke (Clarkson Potter) make up the shortlist. 

Nicholas Lander, chair of the André Simon Memorial Fund, said: "The books are deliciously wide-ranging in theme and approach this year. In the spotlight are cuisines from Burma, Turkey and Japan alongside drink books which range from A Brief History of Lager by Mark Dredge to Tales of the Tea Trade by Michelle and Rob Comins."

The panel was guided by this year’s independent assessors: award-winning author Niki Segnit for the food books and wine expert Dan Jago for the drink books. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in central London on Monday 20th January.