The 24th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards will take place from 3rd – 7th July 2019 in Macao in conjunction with the Beijing International Book Fair, with the focus of this year’s fair being Gastronomy. Macao is part of the UNESCO world network of creativity in Gastronomy, encouraging collaboration and peace universally through food.

At this year’s awards, The Galilean Kitchen a cookbook with a difference encompasses the diversity of cultural flavours and culinary influences from the Arabic communities of rural Galilee. Authored by Jewish food writer Ruth Nieman, her cookbook takes the reader on a journey from the land to the plate, through generations of recipes and stories of local, modest Druze, Christian, Muslim and Bedouin women, whose religious beliefs, eclectic tastes and passion for cooking is showcased through their delicious creations.

Through the cultural inclusiveness of Ruth’s writing and unique flavours of these communities homely dishes, The Galilean Kitchen caught the attention of the judges in the category of Culinary Tourism, winning not only the prize for Israel, but also being awarded a special prize for the Cookbook for Peace, which Ruth will collect at the awards ceremonies in Macao on 3rd and 4th July.

Chefs, food writers, authors and publishers will mingle at the Macao International Book Fair 2019 and with guests and dignitaries from over 60 countries attending, this is a true accolade for Ruth’s debut cookbook, which is currently available on the shelves of Waterstones and Independent Book Shops throughout the UK, Steimatsky’s and many cultural and tourist venues in Israel, as well as on line at Israel Good Food Guide and Amazon. All winners for Israel will be visited by Mrs Yael Lenga Ben-Hur, the Consul General of Israel in Hong Kong on 5th July

All winners for Israel will be visited by Mrs Yael Lenga Ben-Hur, the Consul General of Israel in Hong Kong on 5th July