New Blue Ribbon Cookbook due out 3 March 2026

Liz had absolutely no idea what she was starting, when she came up with what seemed like a reasonable idea for her first book – capturing the stories of South Australian country shows and the long-standing traditions of their cookery competitions.

Published in September 2008,  The Blue Ribbon Cookbook became a best-seller, much praised by critics and home cooks alike. It even took the bemused author to Paris where it won second prize in the most hotly contested category of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards against finalists from more than 50 countries. Who would have thought a celebration of amateur cooks and the humble arts of country baking and preserve making in the antipodes would end up in the gourmet capital of the world!

The response to the book was so remarkable that a national version, The Australian Blue Ribbon Cookbook (Allen & Unwin), followed in 2014, soon becoming a national bestseller. And now we have The New Blue Ribbon Cookbook, due for release in March 2026.  By popular demand, Liz takes us, once again, into kitchens and show pavilions across the country to bring us inspiring stories and more recipes to expand your repertoire – whether it’s for competition or for company. Another treasury of time-honoured recipes that have been tested in competition, and a compendium of priceless knowledge and advice from prize-winning cooks and meticulous show judges who have refined the art of making and selecting the best of the best.