A Cook's Life

by Stephanie Alexander

With The Cook's Companion front and centre in half a million kitchens, Stephanie Alexander is the very definition of a household name. Each day thousands turn to her 'food bible' for the most reliable recipes and advice. But before Stephanie Alexander penned a word for the emerging food media, let alone for The Cook's Companion, she had spent decades avidly documenting food experiences.

Shaped by her mother's dedication to good food and her father's love of reading, she trained as a librarian and all the while observed, assessed and re-created the dishes she loved. Her monthly university allowance rarely lasted more than a week – all spent on pan-fried flounder and chestnut Mont Blanc.

She was seduced over pain Poîlane while working as an au pair in Paris, and later over ackee and saltfish in London. In 1966, with no formal culinary training and a newborn baby, but brimming with confidence and sheer determination, she opened Jamaica House with her first husband. The personal toll was great and it was many years until she emerged on the restaurant scene again.

Stephanie's Restaurant would become part of Melbourne food folklore, permanently raising the bar for restaurant dining in Australia. At the time of its opening, in 1976, a salad to most people meant iceberg lettuce, no-one had heard of goat's cheese and ginger came in a tin. Over the next twenty-one years, in her quest for the sort of produce she had enjoyed while living and travelling in Europe, Stephanie championed small local suppliers or grew it herself.

Her indefatigable determination and single-minded vision have influenced – and sometimes intimidated – a generation of chefs, cooks and diners. And now her Kitchen Garden Foundation is inspiring tens of thousands of primary school children across Australia to grow and cook their own food.

A Cook's Life is a very personal account of one woman's uncompromising commitment to good food, and of how it shaped her life and changed the eating habits of a nation.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Food, Memoir, Book Club

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Food and wine and friendship matter more than almost anything I can think of.

Who am I?

Food and wine and friendship matter more than almost anything I can think of. Together they involve skill and craft and patience, and understanding and appreciation of difference, and the desire to bring happiness to others. Brushing past scented leaves in a garden, looking over a vineyard with the vines glowing gold in autumn sunshine, picking parsley outside the back door, pulling a cork from a bottle of wine, cutting into a ripe cheese, appreciating a wonderful apple, setting out a picnic on a bush table, debating the questions of the universe over a fine wine… all these things seem to me to confirm our humanity and to make me want to live for another day, another meal. In the end, I still believe there is no greater joy than sharing food, conversation and laughter around a table.

In 2012 I will publish my memoir A Cook’s Life. Anyone who would like to know more about me will enjoy reading this book. There are many reminiscences and anecdotes in amongst the facts.

These days I spend most of my time supporting the team that makes the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation project function and grow. I also visit as many of our participating schools as I can and am delighted every time to be greeted by smiling faces and platters of delicious food.

Reviews

[Jaclyn]

Preparing for my interview with Stephanie Alexander and going straight to the source. Fascinating reading, Alexander is brutally honest and hard on herself as she interrogates her life, her relationships, her restaurants and her achievements. Seeing the evolution of the Australian food scene through her eyes as she lived it and influenced that evolution is deeply interesting. I am so looking forward to talking about all of it with her on April 21 @montaltovineyard thanks to @wheelercentre. We’ll also celebrate her latest cookbook Home published by @macmillanaus. Thanks to @morningtonpeninsulalibraries for the loan of this book – Alexander and her father both worked in libraries at various times in their lives which I learnt while reading this book.

[Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this read, especially as a window into the Melbourne culinary scene (and because I love reading about food), I can't honestly say it left me feeling much affection towards SA. Respect, certainly, since she's clearly a talented and hard-working pioneer; but she seems a somewhat testing character. Still, she's open about her flaws, which makes for a more honest memoir.

[Nola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephanie Alexander has certainly packed in a lot in her life (as at 2012 when this book was published) ; she has certainly carried on inventing everything to do with food and the education of young children to be involved with growing their own, preparing and enjoying their food. An easy read and I felt exhausted with her pace of life.

[Ernest · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a ‘foodie’ – for me, eating food is largely a functional action, more concerned about providing nutrition to me rather than to explore, appreciate and peruse flavours, textures and styles. Certainly I prefer well cooked food over badly cooked food, but my food knowledge is limited and my palate generally unsophisticated. It may then come as some surprised that I chose to read this book.

Stephanie Alexander is, apparently, a well-known name in Australian cooking. That I was not familiar with her name is not surprising. However, I was surprised to find that her most famous book was one that I recognised the cover of. This, perhaps, gives an indication of her cooking influence in Australia.

This book is Stephanie Alexander’s autobiography. The writing is simple without being plain and the stories of her life interesting. In many ways, Stephanie Alexander was more adventurous in cooking than the society around her. Many of her food choices and willingness to use non-traditional ingredients foreshadowed not only the internationalisation of the Australian population but also led the cooking scene. In many ways, her story is a look into the changing nature of Australia and its relationship, through cooking, to the wider world. This book contains much discussion and description of food and it is here that those with a greater food knowledge will get the most out of those sections.

This was an interesting read, with those who know of her works likely to be attracted on that basis. Those who were not, like me, should not be put off reading about this interesting life.

[Anne Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting a glimpse inside the lives of well known public figures is always fascinating. Which is one reason I found Stephanie Alexander’s memoir “A Cook’s Life” absorbing reading. Another is that as an iconic and pioneering figure in Australia’s gastronomic scene over the past several decades, Stephanie Alexander has a lot of expertise about the world of food, fine dining, restaurants and food related travel. For anyone interested in Australia’s remarkable culinary evolution over the last thirty years or so, this book is a valuable reference. It’s not what I’d describe as having literary flair and she does get bogged down in what seems unnecessary and irrelevant detail at times. A more judicious edit could have cut the length considerably and made it a better read. Still it was reassuring to read that someone who considers herself painfully shy and unattractive because of her pale and freckled skin has made of her life such a remarkable achievement.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess I am not a foodie and while knowing who Stephanie is and what she is known for, I knew little of her history.
This book is very well written, and a delight to read. Stephanie writes of cooking , preparing and eating food in such a way I want to rush into the kitchen, toss out my pantry contents and start anew, cooking with a flair and passion for good quality food just as she does.
I love the fact she is a past librarian and that her parents were such facinating people. I am grateful for Stephanie sharing her story, I have enjoyed every page.

[Ee Cheng Ooi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book - I'm a huge fan of Stephanie's work. It gave me a lot more respect for her skill as a restaurateur, not just as a food writer who advocates for simple dishes with high quality produce. The book is beautifully written, addictive to read, and illuminates the history of the city I grew up in.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have admired Stephanie for a long time being an amazing cook and author. I found her memoirs insightful and perhaps at times I could relate to her journey. I highly recommend this honest and interesting book of memories.

[Judy O'Laoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful revelation of the fantastic person who is Stephanie Alexander. No holds bar account of her life, loves, children, food, everything. I admired her prior to reading this book, and admire her even more, for her uncomprising account of her life.

[Dina Jenkinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written and I am sure enjoyed by many. However, I wasn't interested in the French foods or famous chefs. That lost me in the middle of the book. If that is your interest, I recommend you try this one.

[Wayne's · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too little on her food life I felt.

[Merideth Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one could accuse Stephanie Alexander of trying to put a rose colored spin on her life story. A really interesting book.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many names in the early parts, enjoyed the later chapters

[Diane in Australia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me.

[Margaret]

Only managed 20 pages before I got bored. Didn't really even start it, let alone finish it.