I’m an avid book reader. I’ve often got several on the go at once and there’s usually a few hidden in my handbag too. You never know when you might get a minute or two to devour a few pages, so when Alma Books contacted me and asked if I’d like to review their new publication Vanilla Salt by Ada Parellada I promptly agreed.
If I am to be honest I didn’t pay that much attention to the press release before I agreed and I thought it was a cookery book – Vanilla Salt, it sounds like a cookery book doesn’t it! It’s not; it’s the fantastic first novel by top Catalan chef Ada Parellada.
Àlex is a brilliant Catalan chef, but he struggles to fill his restaurant because of his gruff, eccentric personality and his refusal to use ingredients that trace their culinary origins to America, such as potatoes and tomatoes. When he meets the young, enthusiastic and beautiful Canadian Annette, he finds his ideas and narrow-minded outlook challenged, and discovers that they are both concealing painful pasts. Vanilla Salt is a sensual and mouth-watering exploration of the kitchen and the human heart, as well as a tale of simmering passions and the need to confront personal truths.
When the parcel containing the book arrived I was busy pottering about the kitchen. I tore the package open, read the first paragraph, put the book down, made hot chocolate, instagrammed the photo above and took the rest of the afternoon off to read, curled up on the couch, captivated.
This is a very well written novel with intriguing and engaging characters you instantly feel you can relate with (the lead character is a spunky Canadian redhead with a fondness for food.. hrrm… sounds like someone you know?). It’s the first novel I’ve ever read mentioning food bloggers and the virtual relationships formed in online communities. I feel like this book could have been written about any one of us. Some of the strong opinions expressed by some of the characters took me aback – do some people really think this about food bloggers in the real world, or is that pure fiction?
Parellada’s mouthwatering food scenes transport you into Àlex’s kitchen, so much so I was inspired to try recreating one of the dishes myself (see Chicken with Apples).
Vanilla Salt is a tale of the fragile human heart and the power of the internet to make or break a person. It’s an easy read and although the foreshadowing was a little too obvious and the sex scenes more amusing than sensual I thoroughly enjoyed every moment it. It would make excellent holiday reading for anyone who reads or writes food blogs, or anyone with a passion for cooking.
I am now desperate to visit Catalonia!
VANILLA SALT – The Perfect Condiment to Happiness
Vanilla Salt is a debut novel by top Catalan chef Ada Parellada, she owns restaurants in Barcelona and Lisbon and is the author of several cookery books as well as collaborating with various newspapers and TV channels in Spain. Her first novel Vanilla Salt was released in the UK, translated from the original Catalan, in mid July and Alma Books has offered Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary readers the chance to win one of two copies. To enter, fill in the Rafflecopter form below. UK entries only.
Click here to read an excerpt.
HOW TO ENTER
For your chance to win one of two paperback copies of Vanilla Salt RRP £7-99 enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Come back and tweet about the giveaway every day for more chances to win!
TERMS & CONDITIONS
This giveaway is open to UK entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 48 hours of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.
The prize is offered and provided by Alma Books. The prize is one of two copies of Vanilla Salt. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winner at random from all the entries received. I will be verifying entries and any automated entries or those who have claimed they have made the mandatory blog post comment and really haven’t will be disqualified. It’s mandatory!
Closing date is midnight on Monday 1 September 2014 and the winner will be announced that day.
If you want to be kept up to date on my recipes, occasional craft tutorials, adventure stories and giveaways then please subscribe to my weekly newsletter; it gets sent out every Monday morning if there is new content. Your email address won’t be passed on to anyone, you will never be spammed and you are free to unsubscribe at any time, no questions asked.
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Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary was sent a complimentary copy of Vanilla Salt for review. All opinions expressed are our own. This is not a paid post.
Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Aaron Milne says
Pride and Prejudice
Laura Vitty says
The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger… it’s just so wonderfully romantic but tragic at the same time.
soneailiami says
Harry Potter – for magic 🙂
Claire toplis says
Mayor of casterbridge I love the human factor
Chris Fletcher says
Catch 22 is a favourite of mine, it always makes me smile!
Sue McCarthy says
The Godfather by Mario Puzo – like a nasty crim & a few bloody murders!
Angela Kelly says
I have read so many books I couldn’t possible pick an all time favourite. A recent favourite is A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
janine atkin says
The Hunger games – kept me gripped from start to finish
Sheri Darby says
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
Clare S says
The Power of One by Bryce Courtnay
Pam Francis Gregory says
Game of Thrones – so gripping
joanne liddement says
I love The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern because it has wonderful characters and a unique story about a circus with strange magical lands and inside the tents.
Keith H says
The famous five as we did not have much money as kids in 1970s
Joanne Welsh says
The Diary of Anne Frank, reading it at aged 13, it just really made me think about the world and the things that had happened and possibilities for the world we live in
James says
From The Storm by Adrian J Walker – fabulous reading
Mark Chamberlin says
Weaveworld by Clive Barker as I read it while on holiday in the states when I met my US family for the first time!
Kate says
I love all of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novels – can’t choose between them!
EJ Dunn says
The Beach by Alex Garland
Michelle Ferguson says
All of the Harry Potter books
Rachel Bustin says
Stephen King’s The Stand, It is such a long book that gets you very envolved witht the story and Characters, its perfect for a winters night!
michelle banks says
Flowers in the attic – virginia andrews x such an emotional rollercoaster x
Elizabeth says
Wasn’t it!!
Hannah Ingham says
Harry Potter series, always will be!
Christina kuczerepa says
My fav book of all time has to ps i love you
Jane Frampton says
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull by Richard Bach. Every time you read it there are new meanings.
georgina davies says
mine is the witches by Roald Dahl because i adored it as a child xxxx
Laura Pritchard says
The Wind-up Bird Chronicles – it’s so compelling & bizarre!
Sheila Reeves says
My favourite at the moment is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, haunting and beautifully written
KATHY D says
TIME LIKE ALICE Neville Shute
jen morgan says
Harry Potter- it just kept me gripped all the way till the end
Karen Whittaker says
Anna Karenina – I love the historical aspect and find Anna as a “heroine” mesmerising!
Rachel @ Parenthood Highs and Lows says
Secret Garden – an absolute classic
ANDREW ROWLANDS says
PAPILLION – HENTI CHERIERE
Diane Jackson says
I loved reading Alaska by James Michener – because it was the first book I read that truly lost me within it
Terrie-Ann Wright says
i love the notebook
Kathy Cakebread says
love Stephen king’s books
Kay panayi says
I love anything by James Patterson
Miss Carol Ann Betts says
The Cloud Garden. It is a true story that is shocking, makes you laugh and smile, but ultimately has a happy ending when the captives are released.
emma falvi says
my sisters keeper, as it made me think
Sandra Lane says
I love The Magician’s Nephew by C.S Lewis. It is a prequel to the Narnia series and is a wonderful book for children and adults.
Chas Gilbert says
Worst Journey In The Midlands by Sam Llewellyn – funniest book ever
claire woods says
P.S I Love You, it makes me smile and cry. It also got made into a fab film that is every bit as good as the book.
Janine Phillips says
The Green Mile, such a fab story
ann clements says
pride & prejudice – it is what romance should be
Christopher Packer says
Mute by Piers Anthony is a great sci-fi adventure with many twists and turns and lots of action. I have read it several times and would recommend it to anyone
Richard Randall says
1984. From fiction to modern day fact.
Jane Willis says
My favourite tends to be the one I’ve just finished, there are just so many books and so little time. But one book I keep coming back to re-read is The Mists of Avalon by Marion Bradley. Arthurian legend fascinates me and this is a very different, very magical, take on it.
Elizabeth says
I really enjoyed that book too. I agree – so many books, so little time! 🙂
Heather Tinkler says
The whitby Witches – Robin Jarvis
Its a great read with lots of twists.
Paula Barker says
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, such a interesting and moving book
clair downham says
the great gatsby .i read it at college and just loved it
pete c says
Tarka the Otter, as a kid I remember greatly enjoying it
Melanie McNair says
The Mayor Of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
Melanie McNair says
The Mayor Of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy as it was the first book that I had to read at school that I actually enjoyed reading, it was a pleasure not a chore.
iain says
the boy with the striped pyjamas, love it , sad but true
Hester McQueen says
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist – a book that made me think
Sarah Hurrell says
Pride and Prejudice
Amy J says
I love priestess of the white by trudi canavan and the rest of the series 🙂
gabyL says
the wasp factory
Mary K says
My favorite book so far is Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The book is so much better than the movie!
Elizabeth says
I fairly enjoyed that series as well.
sustainablemum says
Sounds like an intriguing read. I have visited Catalonia and it is a beautiful part of the world 🙂
sustainablemum says
….and my favourite book very hard to pick………..but at the moment I am reading Margaret Atwood, the Oryx and Crake trilogy on the last book and have loved them all.
amy skinner says
Under the dome by Stephen King, can read most of his books over and over
Natasha Mairs says
so far my favourite book is The White Butterfly by Walter Mosely.
Amy Halls says
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth – enormous but worth it!
Elizabeth says
That’s on my (ever-growing) list of books to read. 🙂