I’m not much of a cook. For a Cook. Hee hee… see that play on words? Yes? Cos my last name’s Cook? Oh okay… so, not funny then. #whatevs
But it’s true. I don’t mind cooking for me as long as it’s something simple, but that’s about the extent of it. I’m the target audience for those 4-Ingredient cookbooks cos my eyes glaze over if I see things requiring me to visit a grocery store. Or separate eggs.

by Dan Churchill, Hayden Quinn
Series: Surfing the Menu
Published by Simon & Schuster Australia
on April 1, 2016
Genres: Non-fiction
ISBN: 9781925368345
Pages: 240
Discover the spectacular natural diversity of the north of Australia, from Broome to Byron, with two of Australia's favourite food lovers and cooks, and enjoy 80 amazing recipes inspired by local growers and food producers.
Along with Gigi, an intrepid vintage VW Beetle, MasterChef stars Dan Churchill and Hayden Quinn travel from the west coast, to the north, and then to the east coast of Australia to explore what's cooking and the incredible produce of each spectacular region -- and being surfer dudes, to catch some waves too!
In this full colour, 240-page cooking and travel extravaganza, cook with Dan and Hayden's inspiring recipes and enjoy the colour, life and tastes that the west, north and east of our great country has to offer.
From Shark Bay thorugh to Wooramel, Carnarvon, Exmouth and Broome in Western Australia, to Kununurra and Katherine in the Northern Territory, to Cairns and Townsville, The Whitsundays and Bundaberg in Queensland, and finally Noosa Toowoomba and Bryon Bay in New South Wales, their journey is showcased with stunning photography of each lush location and the mouthwatering produce and recipes they discover and cook with along the way.
In association with the ABC, the television series of Surfing the Menu will be aired in early 2016. The first two series introduced us to Curtis Stone and Ben O’Donoghue, and now it’s time to hit the surfing trail again with a new generation of food lovers and cooks – Dan Churchill and Hayden Quinn.
I can however appreciate GORGEOUS cookbooks and this new release, Surfing the Menu, is stunning. It’s a massive hard-cover thing full of recipes and pictures of the pair’s travels around half of Australia.
And the recipes on offer vary from Blue Swimmer Crab Nachos to Wild Wicked Watercress Juice to Jalapeno Ponzu Pearl Meat Ceviche (and not, I’m not entirely what that is, but the picture’s pretty). To name just a few of the delights included in the book.
Because I’m kind and generous and nice and kind (etcetera) I’m actually giving away this gorgeous hard-cover cookbook to one lucky reader.
And all you have to do to win it is offer up your first born child and follow Debbish on Facebook.
Actually, no… that’s not true. 🙂 *ahem* All you need to do is leave a comment below and I will use one of those random number generator things to choose a winner. Randomly.
Until it leaves my hot little hands however I will be attempting a recipe or two which I’ll share on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. It will most likely be a disaster, but good for a laugh nonetheless! I figure the Chorizo and Bacon Breakfast Burrito might be first up!
Published by Simon & Schuster Australia and available now.
Why would you like to win a copy of Surfing the Menu (The Next Generation)? Leave a comment to enter the random draw. This competition is only open to Australian residents (sorry, but it’s bloody heavy and too expensive to post overseas!) and will close at 5pm (AEST) 23 April 2016. Good luck!!!
This competition has now closed!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.
April 16, 2016
I want to win this book because i think Hadyn Quinn is gorgeous.
April 16, 2016
Excellent reason!!!
April 16, 2016
How can I resist leaving a comment when you’re reviewing a cookbook? Oh, and spoiler alert…if you don’t like oysters you won’t like the pearl meat ceviche…#justsaying
April 16, 2016
I just threw up a little in my mouth! 😉 Still… the picture looked pretty – before I knew what it actually was…
April 16, 2016
too funny…
April 16, 2016
Loved these two on Masterchef so I’m really pleased to see they’ve joined forces to write a beautiful cook book using Australian produce. Lovely photos – the boys are easy on the eyes too. Am I allowed to say that?
April 16, 2016
Absolutely you can say that. I’m pretty sure that’s why ABC picked them for the show! I gather they’re the ‘next generation’ of Surfing the Menu.
April 16, 2016
it was a bit obscure, but I spotted that play on words!
I’m afraid I didn’t watch Masterchef because I’m averse to seeing the ubiquitous foam (as is anyone who ever worked on a chest ward) but surely, proper Australian recipes won’t have any …. will they?
anyway, those two boys should sell a heap of books looking like that, bet their Mums’ are so proud
April 16, 2016
I watched part of the last season of Masterchef Bec – first time I’d watched it. I actually got pretty into it in the end, but didn’t watch when these guys were there. And I don’t really watch cooking shows as I’m such a boring and fussy eater!
April 16, 2016
Love to win – probably just drool at the photos – really enjoying your blog by the way
April 16, 2016
Oh thanks Sandra, that’s lovely!
April 16, 2016
Pick me, pick me, pick me… I love cookbooks (looking at them and actually using them) and have found that the sort of books I actually cook from has changed over the years – I’m less into fancy these days and more into casual/ tasty/ bbq recipes – this book looks like it ticks those boxes.
April 16, 2016
This would probably work as a coffee table book as well Kate as it’s got some lovely pics of their travels as well as the recipes!
April 17, 2016
I’m drooling over those photos, oh, and the guys on the cover too, lol.
April 17, 2016
As yes, they’re the quintessential scruffy beach-bum-like (yet not) Aussies!
April 17, 2016
I was babysitting for a friend the other night and she had all these beautiful and trendy coffee table books. It struck me I don’t even have a coffee table and the only books I have to go on are crime stories… Looks like a beautiful book perfect for my coffee table when I purchase that too!
April 17, 2016
Hee hee… yes it would be good for that, cos there are lovely pics and stories of their travels!
April 18, 2016
You can see a tailer to the new series here: https://www.facebook.com/SurfingTheMenu/
And expect it on air mid year in both Australia and Asia. I already have a copy of the book, thank you; spoiler alert – I took the location photographs.
April 18, 2016
I would love to win this book!! Pretty pictures and yummy receipes win win 🙂
April 20, 2016
Good luck!!!
April 22, 2016
You had me at breakfast burrito! One of my faves. Plus, I’m a big fan of those two boys.
April 22, 2016
Oh well, good luck Mel!