It’s Tuesday afternoon, the sun is appearing from out behind wispy clouds, and I’m sitting at my dining table with a cup of tea, flicking through Yvette’s new and incredibly inspiring cookbook Homemade, remembering the fun of Thursday night’s private book launch at Foam. Oh what a night! And oh, what a book. It now takes pride of place in my home…
Would you like to take a little peak inside Homemade with me? I’ll pour you a cup of tea while you peruse it’s pages…
that little vessel on the left page is a gift I brought back with me from Australia at the beginning of this year for Yvette – it’s a sam robinson piece, and I’m thrilled to see yvette has used it as a prop in homemade! super leuk.
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I don’t know what I love more – the paper cut out chapter openers, the how-to sections, the personal stories and funny anecdotes peppered throughout the book, the photography (which will knock your socks off), the menu suggestions and “don’t forget the dog” section toward the end of the book, Yvette’s own handmade font, the unique and incredibly delicious recipes, the drawings,… the list goes on. Yvette has created a seriously unique cook- & DIY book, with over 200 recipes and ideas for home cooking, and I have no doubt it is going to be a great success, it’s truly beautiful…
here is friend Floris who makes the best patés and terrines ever, he has his own shop here in Amsterdam, I’ll take you there one day soon!
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As far as the recipes go, what should I try first? The lentil, apple & coriander salad (sounds like the perfect lunch to me!), oven baked rissotto with sausage and paprika, zucchini cakes with basil cream, camembert & apricot jam toasted sandwiches, hang op… just to name a few, it’s all so gooood. The book is only in Dutch at this stage, but I’m hoping it will be translated into English soon, I’ll keep you posted about that.
Now, let me tell you about the book launch party last Thursday night! Foam Café was filled to the brim with press, publishers, Yvette’s close friends and family, and the very lovely and very famous French chef, Stéphane Reynaud. Yvette presented the first copy of her book to Stéphane as he has been a great inspiration to her. I was terribly nervous for her when she was standing up there in front of all those people, I thought my heart was going to pound right out of my chest and into my wine glass. But she was amazing, and didn’t look one bit nervous while she addressed everyone and asked Stéphane to sign her book. I was able to snap some fun photos of the presentation, would you like to see?
Yvette’s publisher Fontaine Uitgevers is also the publisher of the Dutch version of Stéphane’s new book 365 , which the first copy was presented to him along with Yvette’s book. And I was also pleased to find out from Stéphane that my publisher (that be Murdoch books) is publishing the English version of 365, and it will launch in Australia this coming month, yeah! I had a great long chat with Stéphane, it was the first time I’d met him, he’s super nice. We had lots to talk about, he is really looking forward to visiting Australia this coming month – he loves the place, and loves the food! I was thrilled to hear and see his enthusiasm for Australian fare.
here is yvette at the signing table, signing away like a champ!
So there you go, that was last week’s fun. Ah but wait, there’s more! We had a very special house guest this weekend, perhaps you recall her pretty face from here, here, here and here…
Yes, it’s marie! Yvette had a huge catering job to attend to over the weekend and asked if we’d babysit, of course we said yes. Marie was so well-behaved and completely charming. We did lots of things together – we had afternoon naps together on the couch, we went for walks, and on Sunday morning when she heard Romain get out of bed she jumped off the couch, ran into the bedroom with tail wagging furiously and right up into the bed to say good morning, giving us both lots of kisses and cuddles. On Sunday it was raining all day and we soon realised she had no intention of getting out there in the rain, instead she spent the entire day on the couch, and I spent the day looking over at her, snapping photos of her various couch surfing positions, check her out…
Classic! I miss her already. And did someone just say she can’t get any cuter? Umm, well, take a look at this…
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To find out more about Yvette van Boven’s new cookbook Homemade, click here.
All photography in Homemade by Oof Verschuren.
PS marie sat on that cushion while Yvette styled the biscuits all around her, and then posed for the camera! I remember Yvette & Oof showing me the pic when they took it, she is the ultimate photo-friendly pup, gotta love her.
This book is gorgeous!! Are they working on an English version???? I’ll be lining up for one if they did!!
August 31st, 2010 | #
Pia, I think this is my favourite post so far – well except those about your great aunt, which were so very moving.
Your enthusiasm just dripped off my computer screen as I read it – you’ve made me want Yvette’s book really badly, as well as spend time with Marie, discover your houseboat on that canal in Amsterdam next time I visit, meet you, and buy Stéphane’s book 356 also! Keep ’em coming girl, and I’ll keep reading, and delighting…
August 31st, 2010 | #
Mouthwateringly gorgeous!
I must get my paws on this book. I think christmas presents for all the the women in my family is going to be this book. Love the images, the styling and wonderful recipes that I’ve seen so far.
PS: Gave your new book Amsterdam, made by hand to my mother, and she just could not put it down! When she was done with the initial flipping through, she sighed; “a book after mine own heart;)”
August 31st, 2010 | #
This book looks exquisite, Pia! Thank you for sharing.
August 31st, 2010 | #
love the book and I would just get it for the pictures and in Foam, that must have been amazing, I love the location and their exhibition!
August 31st, 2010 | #
yvette’s book looks beautiful … we hope there will be an english version one day. and marie is very sweet.
August 31st, 2010 | #
ooh! it looks amazing. Please do let us know if/when an english version comes out!
August 31st, 2010 | #
The book looks absolutely amazing and I’ve seen it everywhere! So happy for your success…it’s really wonderful!
Julie xo
September 1st, 2010 | #
Looks like a beautiful book. And hangop…oh, I so remember that! yum. I think you guys should get a friend for Marie to play with when she comes over. She IS adorable! Lidy
September 1st, 2010 | #
Yes, please add my vote to the “English version, please!” list.
And should Marie ever want to make a visit to Canada, we have the exact same couch. She’d feel right at home!
September 1st, 2010 | #
Oh I wish there was an English version of the book, it looks so lovely. And the photos of Marie are so cute snuggled up on the couch.
September 1st, 2010 | #
Book & lunch, uhh.. launch look great! Wish I was there!
Thanx for sharing!
September 1st, 2010 | #
Looks like such fun! I, too am waiting for the English version. I think my resident chef needs a new challenge. 🙂 xo
September 1st, 2010 | #
Firstly, that book looks lovely, shall be getting a copy ASAP …
Oh and little Marie is divine … and so well behaved, she reminds me of my dog Elvis !!!
Love this post so so much !!!
September 1st, 2010 | #
That book sounds divine, I need to buy it! Althought if it’s not in English it wouldn’t do me much good 🙁
September 1st, 2010 | #
oh this book looks divine…i do hope it comes out in english…and that marie – what a cutie!
September 1st, 2010 | #
Dear Pia,
I am in love with your blog and try my best to check in as much as I can. 🙂
This post is lovely and the book looks and sounds absolutely beautiful! And yes, I am in love with the photography…I would love to buy a copy. If ever I have some extra cash I shall.
That dog is so cute and the picture with the biscuits is very adorable.
Thank you for sharing, darling! Do come and check out my blog and follow if you like.
Kisses and hugs,
Rachel
September 2nd, 2010 | #
I’m smitten with this book! It looks beautiful and your photos just made me hungry for more 😀
September 2nd, 2010 | #
thanks for sharing this Pia!!!
September 2nd, 2010 | #
Congratulations once again to Yvette!
Btw I get in my hands your new book Amsterdam: Made by Hand! Even earlier than I expected..
Just fabulous!!
September 2nd, 2010 | #
Ha! How cool is that. As soon as you highlighted the vessel and said Australia, I got a funny feeling that this could be the same person that I picked up 4 lovely cups from in Sydney. And yes: I found them on her website. Her stuff is gorgeous.
September 2nd, 2010 | #
I love this post, especially the pictures of Marie. So cute. The book looks great as well. I hope the english version is published soon.
September 2nd, 2010 | #
Looks like a lovely book to add to the shelves once the English version is out. I also have some of those beautiful Samantha Robinson pieces, carefully carried back to Paris this year. They take me home and to happy memories each time I have my morning coffee from one.
September 2nd, 2010 | #
Thx for your share. I like this article and the dog so Q
September 2nd, 2010 | #
This looks like a wonderful book, the photos are really great. I don’t cook but I would want to buy it just for the photos.
September 3rd, 2010 | #
oh, gosh. I really hope they do an English version or I will be forced and doomed to buy the Dutch only version and stupidly just stare at those gorgeous pictures…
September 3rd, 2010 | #
This post and the book look suitably delicious! One to add to the shelf for sure!
xx C
September 3rd, 2010 | #
Forgot to express just how impressed I am by Marie..!
September 3rd, 2010 | #
Hi Pia,
I saw this cookbook last week at Kookpunt in Rotterdam (on the corner where we want to open our shop!) and fell in love with it immidiately! Love Len
September 6th, 2010 | #
Hello Pia – Yesterday I saw the English version of Stéphane’s book 365 in Myer book dept here in Melb, so I guess it’s out already!
September 8th, 2010 | #
OK, so what kind of dog is she? I’m in love.
September 9th, 2010 | #
[…] Pia Jane Bijkerk took this picture of Stéphane Reynaud, my publisher Martin Fontijn and me,she did a wonderful story on the booklaunch here […]
September 15th, 2010 | #
[…] Yvette van Bovenin kirjasta Homemade. Pia Jane Bijkerk bloggasi siitä jo jokin aika sitten täällä, ja kirja näyttää hurjan […]
September 21st, 2010 | #