NZ Book Month hosts the Edmonds Cookery Book Competition

12 October 2009

To celebrate the quintessential guide to traditional New Zealand cuisine, Christchurch City Libraries have launched the Edmonds Best-Loved Cookbook Competition as part of New Zealand Book Month.

Libraries and Information Manager Carolyn Robertson says the competition was created following a vote for Christchurch’s favourite books earlier in the year.

“As part of New Zealand Book Month, we asked the public to vote for their favourite New Zealand books and The Edmonds Cookery Book came out on top as Christchurch’s favourite New Zealand non-fiction title.

“It’s a book that’s loved throughout the country but the fact that the old Edmonds Factory was situated on Ferry Road in Linwood means there’s a real local connection for the people of Christchurch.”

To enter the competition, Christchurch residents simply need to fill in an entry form from their local library and hand it in with their own copy of The Edmonds Cookery Book before Monday 19 October. There are five different categories in which to enter, including oldest publishing date, most well-used, most annotated, the virgin copy and the best adventure  with your Edmonds Cookery Book.

Alternatively, late entries can brought along to the Edmonds by the Sea event at New Brighton Library on Friday 23 October at 11am. Winners of the competition will be announced by Councillor Chrissie Williams, with prizes including a brand new copy of the cookbook and a designer kiwiana necklace. Crowne Plaza chef Madison Snyder will also be on site to cook one of the famous recipes. Tea and coffee will also be provided.

To complement the competition, New Brighton Library will also be putting on a display of Edmond’s Memorabilia, following a generous donation from local resident, Mr. Ron Hooker.

“I worked for Edmonds for about 20 years and have built up a tremendous collection of books, including an original of the third edition and a copy of the first ever deluxe edition from 1955. I’d say I have between 25-30 different books.

“I also have lots of different factory tour books, a ten minute video of the factory back in the 1950’s, unlimited photographs, thousands of Edmonds labels, every newspaper cutting since 1963, staff photos and the complete Edmonds family history. I’ve even written a dissertation about the history of Edmond’s Cookbooks, to bring the last hundred years together in one record.”

“I thought my collection would complement the competition New Brighton Library are running, while informing the public about the history of the well-known Edmonds brand.”

Cookbooks entered in the competition will be returned to their owners either in person at the Edmonds by the Sea event or after the event by post.