Fire Islands
Recipes from Indonesia
Steep verdant rice terraces, ancient rainforest and fire-breathing volcanoes create the landscape of the world's largest archipelago. Indonesia is a travellers' paradise, with cuisine as vibrant and thrilling as its scenery. For these are the original spice islands, whose fertile volcanic soil grows ingredients that once changed the flavour of food across the world. On today's noisy streets, chilli-spiked sambals are served with rich noodle broths, and salty peanut sauce sweetens chargrilled sate sticks. In homes, shared feasts of creamy coconut curries, stir-fries and spiced rice are fragrant with ginger, tamarind, lemongrass and lime. The air hangs with the tang of chilli and burnt sugar, citrus and spice. Eleanor Ford gives a personal, intimate portrait of a country and its cooking, the recipes exotic yet achievable, and the food brought to life by stunning photography.
Photography: Kristin Perers
Published by Murdoch Books May 2019
Published in North America by Apollo Publishers: November 2019
“This title is as beautiful and inspirational as the author’s first. Filled with gorgeous photography, Eleanor transports the reader to far away lands like no other.” Eat Your Books
“This is not just a beautiful and hunger-stoking cookbook, but also a fantastic way to travel from your kitchen to one in Indonesia. This book has real spirit, bold flavours and beautiful words to boot. In short: it has it all.” Meera Sodha
“Hot Stuff. Fire up your cooking with the exotic spices, colours and flavours of Indonesia… Ford delivers a thorough account of the Indonesian table and all its cuisines, from Sumatra’s spice blends and Padang’s slow cooked rendang stew to the raw vegetable dishes of Java and the chilli-hot fish from Sulawesi.” The Telegraph
“A passionate, comprehensive guide to the food of the Indonesian archipelago…. Eleanor Ford takes us through this vibrant, spice scented cuisine, so often overlooked in favour of its better-known neighbours.” Tom Parker Bowles for The Daily Mail’s best food books 2019
“Fire Islands is one of those books that offers pure delight, a keepsake like a precious jewel. The sensorial tales have coloured my bedtime reading, as have the alluring photographs and recipes.” Hilary Biller, Sunday Times, South Africa
“Eleanor Ford proves that Indonesian food is ready for its time in the sun” Forbes
“Marvellous Indonesian food… I am steadily cooking my way through, pestle and mortar in hand.” Mark Mardell
“This lovingly researched book from Eleanor Ford may have you hankering after a trip to Bali or Java. Or failing that, venturing into the kitchen with an armful of spices.” Delicious magazine
“ An introductory guide to Indonesian cuisine, presenting well-known recipes alongside some of the more unfamiliar cuisines and dishes of the region.” The Bookseller
“(Eleanor Ford) has written the most masterful book on Indonesian cookery. The mighty Fire Islands is a passionate and personal tour of the varied cuisines and cultures of the multiple islands that make up Indonesia.” Saliha Mahmood Ahmed
“Congratulations Eleanor. Love your book and must try to cook more of the recipes.” Sri Owen
“Love the food pictures, the expression of flavours … well written.” William Wongso
“This book is an absolute revelation for me. I read every good book from cover to cover and use it to educate myself as best I can." Sabrina Ghayour
“This book is packed full of fantastic flavours which will give any dish an exotic taste. Alongside these recipes sits thoughtful cultural insights and some of the most impressive culinary photography, inspiring any cook to delve into the intricacies of Indonesian cooking.” Restaurant & Cafe
“Detailed and evocative” Max Brearley for Delicious Australia’s best books of the year
“The recipes are inspiring and achievable; it’s bright, colourful and I can taste it from here.” Cuisine
“A beautiful cookbook that shows impressive impressions of the country and its people and invites you to take a virtual vacation in Indonesia.” Judges for German Cookbook Awards
“If you want to take a deep dive into Indonesian cuisine and learn more about the culture and history of this beautiful destination, this book is it!” Nomlist
“Bring a taste of paradise to the table with these sun-drenched Indonesian recipes by Eleanor Ford.” The Independent
“Writing is elegant, lyrical, evocative.” The Telegraph
“Spirited and flavorful… Those who like it hot will want to dive into this fascinating collection.” Publishers Weekly
“Eleanor Ford’s passion for Indonesia and its cuisine shines through her beautiful and picturesque writing. Not only does she capture the sights and sounds of the region, she also understands the flavours. The book includes really useful guides to authentic ingredients, including a recipe for Bumbu, the spice base for so many dishes, and there are some very useful “kitchen tips.” The jurors also appreciated the way the chapters are arranged: ‘by the texture and character of the dishes, for example Dry and Aromatic, rather than by ingredients or the way they might be served.’ And they liked the wealth of authentic recipes. One juror remarked that she had marked so many recipes to make that she would not be deterred from ferreting out all the correct ingredients. This gripping book is particularly welcome as there has been so very little written about Indonesian food in recent years.” Guild of Food Writers Awards 2020
