BREAKING NEWS - Brazilian Cookbooks Win International Awards

One of the most prestigious international awards for excellence in cookbook publishing is announced in Paris each February - the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Prizes are awarded in a number of categories, and this year there were entries from 136 countries.

Nine Brazilian cookbooks were honored this year,  including a special jury award, and two first place finishes.

The prize for "Best Cookbook Photography in the World" was won by Brasil a Gosto (in English, Brazil to Taste), written by São Paulo chef/author Ana Luisa Trajano, with photographs by Alexandre Schneider. The book is a compendium of regional recipes from 40 Brazilian cities, and the photographs are stunningly beautiful. Not having seen the competing books, I can only say that it would appear to be a prize well-deserved.



Author Edmundo Furtado won the prize for "Best Book in the World for Wine Professionals" with his book 
Copos de Bar e Mesa (Glassware for Bar and Table). This book presents the history and evolution of glassware and stemware for professionals, and includes complete technical details on more than 50 types of glasses, including exact dimensions, and explanations of suitability of each type for specific beverages.

The Special Jury Prize was given to Comida de Tradiçao para Crianças (Traditional Food for Children) from Brazilian publishing house Editora Esplendor, written by Eduardo Sganzerla.

A complete list of all prizes worldwide may be found here, and a list of winning entries from Brazil is here.