Books for Cooks has moved. The shop is no longer in that cute little house on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy. After all these years it now has a greater and more comfortable space at the Queen Victoria Market. I first wrote about this fascinating bookshop several years ago – Books for Cooks.
There is no double that it was a squeeze at times to browse with others in the cramped space of the old Victorian cottage but it did have atmosphere. And the squeeze encouraged chat among customers.
The new shop, beside the Queen Victoria Market, has atmosphere too. I don’t think you can put a huge collection of books into a space without creating a welcoming vibe. The new locations says ‘come in, relax, browse, check us out’.
Walls of cooking books at Books for Cooks
Along with the modern cook books there are wonderful old volumes. I wanted to know how an 18th century cook jugged a hare and what she served with it. I found the information.
Will I ever want to make a Christmas pudding using suet the way my grandmother did? I saw a recipe for one using suet at Books for Cooks. I always liked Grandma’s and it reminded me I could give it a try one Christmas. Not this Christmas, though.
Books everywhere for hours of browsing at Books for Cooks new location
Classic Women’s Weekly cook books are there too so you can find your long lost favourite
In the new location there are two large rooms, with books lining the walls and several comfortable chairs and couches. Imagine moving all those books; packing them into boxes, lugging them to the removal truck and then unloading them all at the other end and finding a new shelf-home for them. Books are heavy and some of the beautifully illustrated ones, with food as eye candy, can be very weighty. The thought is daunting.
I wrote a post about my fascination with the Time Life Cook Books a couple of years ago. They have come to the new location but they are no longer tucked away at the end of a corridor. They are out in the open by one of the comfortable couches. I still think they are some of the most interesting cook books every written.
The cover of the Time Life series Cooking Spain & Portugal
Books for Cooks is the country’s only bookshop dedicated to new and old books about wine, food and the culinary arts. Check it out when you are in Melbourne’s CBD.
Theirry Street runs alongside the Queen Victoria Market. MacDonald’s is on the corner at the Elizabeth Street end.
Where:-
129–131 Therry Street, Melbourne
Beside Queen Victoria Market.
Melbourne CBD
Phone:- (03) 8415 1415
Web:- booksforcooks.com.au
Open:-
Mon to Sat 10am–6pm
Sun 11am–5pm
