Gates, Stefan: Incredible Edibles.

Murphy, David

GATES, Stefan Incredible Edibles Walker, 2012 127pp A$24.95 NZ$27.99 ISBN 9781406339062 SCIS 1584919

Stefan Gates presents a very interesting and informative television show on the BBC by the same name as this book, the companion to that TV series. The series delves into weird and wonderful facts about food. The book explores those subjects and provides a ready reference to the remarkable variety of gastronomical substances available and their many and varied uses.

The book has many side bar stories about the different foods eaten around the world such as ants eggs and cane rats, what they taste like, who eats them and how to cook them. These are very interesting, if a little disturbing.

Also featured in the book are several exercises and recipes which are easy and interesting to create at home. If these are particularly complex there is a big 'Adult Needed' alert which helps younger readers identify what they can do on their own and what they will need help with. The illustrations and photographs are all of high quality and the book is well designed and easy to read. It would be a great resource with or without the programme.