Maltese wins ‘Entertaining Award’ in Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2010

A total of 154 countries participated in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2010 which features some 41 categories.

Mattei took the title home with her latest book ‘Pippa’s Festa – a Celebration of Food in Malta’ published by Miranda last year. The United Kingdom ranked in second place followed by the Netherlands and Belgium.

The winners were announced on March 3, 2011. Last year the Entertainment Award was won by Ingrid Espelid Hovig from Norway.

In 2003, Mattei published her first solo book ’25 Years in a Maltese Kitchen.’ She then started to travel and contribute to both local and international media in her capacity as a passionate cook living in Malta.

In 2010 she published her second book which not only proved to be a best seller in Malta and Gozo but also won the hearts of the GWCA.

Pippa Mattei, together with her husband John, was present at the Award Ceremony, and thanked all those involved: her publishers Miranda for believing in her from the start, photographer Kurt Arrigo, art director Mark Thomson, her husband John who first taught her the secrets of the kitchen, and her son and daughter, Alex and Emma, for styling and editing the book.

Brothers Tony and Eddie Aquilina, who have nurtured a 8-year relationship with the author since the launch of her first book have expressed their delight at this award: “Winning an international award for a cook book is a first for Miranda, and a first for Malta, we’re very proud of our achievement!”

The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards (GWCA) were founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau. Cointreau, who currently sits as the President of the GWCA, was born into the families of Cointreau liquer on his paternal side.

In order to fully represent the diversity of food and drink publishing around the world, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards have 41 categories for cookbooks and 18 for drinks books. There are around 26,000 food and wine books produced each year.

More information or a copy of the book can be found on www.mirandabooks.com