December 2020: Fire Islands German edition has won bronze at Der Deutsche Kochbuchpreis 2020. “A beautiful cookbook that shows impressive impressions of the country and its people and invites you to take a virtual vacation in Indonesia.”

November 2020: I spoke to the charming and erudite Alissa Timoshkina on her MotherFood. It is a podcast about motherhood, and mothers who have turned the traditional role of feeding into professional success. I enjoy her honesty, insight and open discussions.

June 2020: I am fizzing with delight and disbelief to have won the Guild of Food Writers award of best ‘International or Regional Cookbook’ for Fire Islands. I am also truly humbled as the other writers in my category are some I admire greatly.

The real credit should go to Indonesia for being so easy to fall in love with and having food so joyful to write about.

June 2020: Find my Greek island recipes in the latest issue of House & Garden. The island in particular is Sifnos, sometimes called the Island of Flavours thanks to its rich culinary heritage. Its traditional food is light, bright and fresh. Olive oil, garlic, sun-sweetened citrus, mountain thyme honey, seasonal vegetables and an abundance of herbs are combined with careful attention and simple techniques. It is irresistible summery eating. This small island in the Aegean is also where my family has had a house for the past 21 years: a former monastery with a tiny blue-domed church. It sits high on a craggy rockface with steps winding down to the sea, and a donkey track to the nearest road. With no mains electricity and only a well for water, it is a magical escape where time has stood still. In our kitchen, with its slatted cupboards and worn marble worktops. I cook with the sunshine flavours of Greek island food.

May 2020: Fire Islands has been shortlisted for the prestigious Guild of Food Writers awards in the category ‘International or Regional Cookbook’

March 2020: Londoners! Join me next month at an Indoensian supper club in collaboration with the Cookbook Festival. 23rd April, 7pm, Turnham Green. £45 with all proceeds going to the wonderful Felix Project, working against food waste and hunger in London.

Welcome Cocktail: Sweet tamarind jamu

To Begin: Peanut and lime leaf crackers; Tempeh with red chilli and palm sugar; Martabak with a red chiili sambal

Followed By: Roast pork with turmeric and garlic; Aubergine with shrimp paste; Vegetable urap with fresh spiced coconut; Yellow coconut rice; Fermented sambal

Finishing With: Green coconut pancakes; Chocolate and lemongrass ice cream

February 2020: I am utterly delighted to have won an Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award. Fire Islands was named Food and Drink Travel Book of the Year. I will treasure my globe trophy always. A glimpse into the award celebrations here.

February 2020: It has been fun this month taking over both the Olive Magazine and Great British Chefs Instagram accounts, bringing a bit of spice to February. Find me more usually @eleanorfordfood

February 2020: I enjoyed speaking at the legendary Omnivore Books in San Fransisco and Now Serving in Los Angeles.

February 2020: Indonesia is a land of spice and rice. For a country that is so intrinsically linked to the spice trade, it is curious that Indonesian food is characterised by its freshness. Rather than relying on dried spices, fresh ingredients are pounded to spice pastes known as bumbu to unlock their exotic, vibrant flavours. Read my feature in Olive Magazine.

February 2020: Cook with me all month as The Great British Chefs cookbook club members eat their way through Fire Islands. I will be joining the group for recipe discussions and live Q&As on Facebook and Instagram.

December 2019: I am honoured to be shortlisted for Travel Cookery Book of the Year 2020 alongside such incredible writers about food and place.

December 2019: Fire Islands by Eleanor Ford wins two Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, for the categories “International Cookbook” and “Spice Cookbook” 2020.

2019. See Notebook page for dates and details.

December 2019: Sous Chef has put together a wonderful Indonesian gift set. The perfect present, if I do say so myself! For the many who ask where in the UK you can source dark palm sugar (gula jawa), they sell it too.

November 2019: I took a taste of Indonesia to the Google UK kitchen, making one of my favourite dishes for winter, potatoes cooked in spiced coconut milk with lemon basil. Also mie goreng (noodles of distinction in 5 minutes) and to drink a sweet tamarind jamu. The kitchens are incredible, gleaming in the futuristic Google London office complete with floating staircases.

November 2019: Samarkand is the title for The Borough Market Cookbook Club this November.

October 2019: Fire Islands launched in South Africa and couldn’t have had a more delightful review that by Hillary Biller in The Sunday Times.

“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.”

September 2019: WAIT! Yes that is my book, Fire Islands, strutting down the catwalk at London Fashion Week. Officially the hottest accessory of the season. 🔥🔥🔥 Part of the amazing Rohmir SS20 show at Fashion Scout - what an honour, I am speechless.

August 2019: Thank you for having me Edinburgh! And to such a delightful crowd for coming to hear me speak in the beautiful Spiegeltent.

June 2019: I am a proud contributor to Michael Rakowitz’s new book that fuses contemporary art and food to celebrate the ancient ingredient of date syrup and its symbolism in Iraqi culture. The visionary artist has curated this cookbook to accompany his sculpture on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, a winged bull made from date syrup cans. I am one of 40 chefs who have given recipes, others including Yotam Ottolenghi, Claudia Roden, Prue Leith, Georgio Locatelli, Thomasina Miers and Alice Waters.

June 2019: I was delighted to take my new book to my once home city of Hong Kong. The beautiful Kelly & Co bookshop in Pacific Place hosted a book signing - just look at their splendid window display - and I was interviewed by the SCMP. We spoke about how living in Asia, both in Indonesia and Hong Kong, has influenced my understanding of food and cooking. My time working as a restaurant editor in HK was an Asian food awakening for me as there is surely no better city to try regional food from across the continent.

May 2019: I would move to Bath for a bookshop as lovely as Topping & Co. There could have been no nicer or more welcoming place to start my Fire Islands book tour. We cooked and ate three recipes, Sweet Ginger Chicken, Sour Spice Dipping Sauce and Spring Vegetable Urap with local asparagus.

May 2019: The UK and Australian editions of Fire Islands are out now. US, German and Russian editions follow later this year.

April 2019: From the waung that has been turning out exceptional asinan and gado gado salads since 1960 to the coffee shop which pairs technicolour cakes with the world’s best brew, read my guide to Jakarta eats in TRAVELLER.

April 2019: The Russian version of Samarkand is now out, with its own glittery version of its ikat cover.

March 2019: As a judge at the Academy of Chocolate awards, I had the enviable task of tasting and deliberating produce from the world’s finest chocolatiers. Pictured here a cocoa pod, fresh from Peru, judging notes and tasting plates in the background. My favourite discovery was the pairing of dark chocolate with wild forest pepper from Vietnam. This exotic spice lends gingery warmth and lemongrassy citrus. Compelling.

March 2019: Indonesia was the market focus for this year’s London Book Fair. The pavilion at Olympia was a splendid showcase of Indonesian literature, art, food, fabric and fashions and a celebration party at the Design Museum hosted a magical, mystical party with haunting Sumatran vocals . A fringe programme sees Indonesian cultural events across the UK this spring from puppet theatre to poetry recitals. I am enjoying the attention on the vibrant cuisine.

February 2019: We have been shooting some recipe videos from Fire Islands. Soon I’ll be bringing you the ultimate nasi goreng, a very gingery chicken stir-fry that makes a great speedy meal, and luscious black rice pudding with salted coconut cream.

February 2019: I am thrilled to reveal the stunning cover of my new book, Fire Islands. Based on my favourite traditional Indonesian pattern, mega mendung, Lucy at Studio Polka created the most superb design. Look forward to sharing more soon.