In June 2025, Penguin Random House South Africa (PRHSA) proudly took
home an impressive seven accolades at the prestigious 30th Gourmand World
Cookbook Awards, held during the Cascais Food Summit in Portugal at the
Estoril Congress Centre. The event, hosted by Gourmand Awards founder
and president Edouard Cointreau, brought together culinary visionaries and
publishing powerhouses from around the globe. Known as the “Oscars” of
the food publishing world, the Gourmand Awards celebrate excellence in
food and drink writing across every continent and category. This year, PRHSA
shone on the world stage, with wins spanning diet, culture, regional cuisine,
and storytelling – demonstrating the incredible diversity and talent of South
Africa’s food landscape.
Here are the PRHSA titles that took home top honours:
BEST ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE YEAR
Recipes to Die Live For: A Tannie Maria Cookbook
by Sally Andrew
Tannie Maria, everyone’s favourite amateur detective and agony aunt, has finally heeded the call of her fans countrywide to produce her very first cookbook. Recipes to Die Live For features recipes from Sally Andrews’ first four murder mystery novels, as well as some tantalising new additions. Spiced with enjoyable sayings from the four novels, as well as letters written to ‘Tannie Maria’s Love Advice and Recipe Column’, and seasoned with photographs of the food and the beautiful Karoo, Recipes to Live For is as warm and witty as Tannie Maria herself, guaranteed to delight fans and newcomers to the series. Many of the dishes are slow foods and traditional South African recipes, but there are also quick meals and new inventions, from nachos to spekboom ice cream. Whether you are craving a Karoo lamb pie or a vetkoek with mince, or are lus for a melktert or koeksister, you will find it among Tannie Maria’s gastronomic delights.
COOK THE BOOK:
BEST CELEBRITY CHEF COOKBOOK IN THE WORLD
by Warren Mendes
Join chef Warren Mendes on an unforgettable food adventure across South Africa. In Food Trail South Africa, Warren shares the dishes, stories, and flavours he discovered along the way – from lively markets and coastal towns to tucked-away kitchens and family tables. This cookbook is a celebration of local ingredients, regional favourites, and fresh takes on South African classics, all inspired by Warren’s travels and the people he met. Whether you’re after something comforting, vibrant, or completely new, there’s a recipe here to suit every mood and occasion. More than just a collection of recipes, Food Trail South Africa brings the spirit of South African cooking into your kitchen – warm, generous, and full of flavour.
COOK THE BOOK:
> Dombolo with Spiced Fried Chicken & Pickles
> Peppermint Crisp Ice Cream Sandwiches
BEST DIET BOOK IN THE WORLD
The South African Guide to Gluten-Free Baking
by Zorah Booley Samaai
In a world where allergies and food intolerances are becoming more and more common, The South African Guide to Gluten-Free Baking will make your time in the kitchen a little sweeter. This cookbook will teach you how to seamlessly pivot from ‘normal’ baking to gluten-free baking, so you can enjoy your favourite baked goods and sweet treats without the guilt – or any unpleasant side effects. As a go-to guide for baking all things gluten-free, the book includes a section on how to stock your pantry for gluten-free baking (including a breakdown of the best gluten-free flours to use, and which combinations work best for different recipes), what ingredients are safe to use for a gluten-free diet, as well as the equipment and tools you’ll need to become an expert gluten-free baker. Gluten-free baking can seem daunting, but The South African Guide to Gluten-Free Baking will inspire readers to learn how to make their favourite baked goods gluten-free – without being able to tell the difference! – so they can walk into the kitchen with confidence. Expect recipes for everything from decadent triple-layer celebration cakes, cute cupcakes and one-bowl brownies, delicious doughnuts, decadent cheesecakes, comforting pies and easy pizzas, South African favourites like malva pudding, as well as a chapter on easy air-fryer bakes.
COOK THE BOOK:
BEST FOOD AND DRINKS BOOK IN THE WORLD
with The Lazy Makoti and J’Something
The Great Marula Menu is a delicious collaboration between Amarula and passionate home cooks from across South Africa. A curation of the best Amarula-inspired recipes shared by devoted Amarula fans, the book is a true reflection of community and a shared love of great flavours. With contributions from renowned culinary figures The Lazy Makoti and J’Something, who bring their unique talents to the table, The Great Marula Menu promises a cultural journey through diverse South African home cooking. From tasty lunches to moreish mains, scrumptious desserts and inspired cocktails, each recipe contains either a splash or a generous pour of this world-famous liqueur. But more than this, the book is a tribute to the land where the marula trees grow. Gathered within these pages, you’ll find a representation of this nation’s vibrant imagination – all brought together in the spirit of generosity. It’s a delightful blend of Amarula’s spirit, culinary expertise and the warmth of home cooking, inviting everyone to savour the rich tapestry of South Africa’s food culture.
COOK THE BOOK:
> Fried Chicken and Waffles with Amarula Hollandaise
BEST LATIN AMERICAN CUISINE BOOK PUBLISHED OUTSIDE LATIN AMERICA IN THE WORLD
by Aiden Pienaar
In Mexico in Mzansi, chef Aiden Pienaar brings local flair to some traditional Mexican favourites. Like the ubiquitous taco, this cookbook is filled with a surprising array of flavours and influences to excite even the most experienced chefs and exhausted home cooks. By thinking a little outside the box, and using South African ingredients and cooking techniques – boerie tacos and braaied corn, anyone? – Chef Aiden gives Mexican cuisine a Mzansi-style facelift. From classics such as mole, refried beans and nachos, to innovations including Mexican chakalaka, chilli con carne vetkoek and sosatie tacos, these are recipes to inspire and delight. All are easy to follow and require minimal prep. In addition, Chef Aiden will teach you to make your own tortillas and salsas, show you how to present tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas, as well as introduce you to different cooking methods, from braising and grilling to air-frying. That’s not to mention the array of delicious desserts to round off your meal, or the collection of margaritas to tantalise your tastebuds.
COOK THE BOOK:
> Crispy Asian-style Chicken Tacos
> Lazy Tres Lesches (milk cake)
BEST MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE BOOK IN THE WORLD
by Elmarie Berry
Step into the kitchen with Elmarie Berry as she brings together the bold, sunny flavours of South Africa and the comforting, aromatic dishes passed down from her Lebanese granny. The Table is a celebration of food, family, and the joy of sharing meals, where old traditions meet fresh ideas in a delicious blend of cultures. With simple, flavour-packed recipes designed for effortless entertaining, this book is all about bringing people together – whether you're hosting a relaxed lunch or a festive feast. Each dish is easy to make, yet impressive enough to turn any gathering into a special occasion. Filled with beautiful photography and personal touches, The Table will inspire you to slow down, set the table, and make every meal a moment to remember.
COOK THE BOOK:
> Cheat chocolate-caramel dream cake
> Phyllo feta parcels with chilli honey & mango rocket salad
BEST OF THE BEST – FOOD CULTURE
by Zola Nene
Zola Nene's third book celebrates the diverse cultural heritage of South Africans through the wonderful tradition of sharing meals. In Simply Seven Colours, Zola gives praise to the uniquely South African seven-colour (or several-colour) concept with a selection of more simply delicious recipes that tap into the heart of our food nostalgia, with a focus on going back to basics. The idea of Simply Seven Colours is for you to create your own unique seven-colour menu, by picking recipes from different chapters or ‘colours’. From green, yellow, orange, brown, white, red, a rainbow of colours and, of course, desserts to round off your seven-colour meal, this book is sure to bring you more simply delicious joy.
COOK THE BOOK:
With over 200 countries participating, the Gourmand Awards are a global stage for food writing, photography, and publishing excellence. That seven South African books – many celebrating local culture, ingredients, and tradition – received world-class recognition is both a triumph and a testament to the growing influence of African food narratives.
As PRHSA continues to champion distinctive local voices, these wins reaffirm the global appetite for stories told through the lens of food – rich with heart, heritage, and homegrown flavour.
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