Bella: My life in food

by Annabel Langbein

Bursting with tender and funny anecdotes and gorgeous recipes, Bella is Annabel Langbein's must-read memoir.For the first time, Annabel Langbein, New Zealand's most popular cookbook author, writes about her remarkable life and how food has shaped it, highlighting some of the recipes that have resonated most strongly with her over the years. From her childhood fascination with cooking to a teenage flirtation as a Maoist hippie, to possum trapping and living off the land as a hunter and forager, to travelling and starting her own croissant business in Brazil, Annabel's life has always been centred on food and nature. Out of this came an obsession with creating cookbooks, introducing a generation of cooks to her simple recipes for delicious, stylish meals. Annabel has lived a huge and varied life, and she writes vividly about her many adventures. From throughout this rich life in food she has chosen 60 key recipes, created with her signature style and flair that make cooking easy for everyone, sharing them in this beautifully photographed book.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2020

About the author

Award-winning author Annabel Langbein is one of New Zealand's most celebrated food writers and cooks. She is the author and publisher of 11 bestselling books that have been translated and are distributed all over the world. The Best of Annabel Langbein - Great Food for Busy Lives has sold over half a million copies to date worldwide.

Reviews

[Tuesdayschild · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 60 recipes in this book are ones that Annabel “lives by” and I am au fait with quite a few of them so they ended up not being the purpose for me to read Bella.
This book really and truly is the telling of Annabel’s life in food - for others that like to know things like this too, she includes a few risqué stories. What a life (her parents must have been tearing their hair out with worry over her safety and wellbeing with some of her teen/young adult choices.)
This is well written, I sat down and read it right through in one sitting; added to that, I’m very familiar with the provinces she moved about in, in New Zealand, and I could recognise so much of the 1970’s culture that existed during my childhood … I loved all the pictures! A cooking memoir that is Kiwi as, and, interesting reading.
I really appreciated seeing glimpses of how Annabel’s world view has been formed and some of the takeaway thoughts life has taught her. I came away with a greater understanding and respect for the cook who shares recipes I aspire to recreate: Annabel acquired the skills to create meals in a life that has included some seriously hard knocks.

[Kiwiflora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many home cooks, I have been an Annabel fan for many years, and still use her second ever cookbook on a regular basis, starting to fall apart because so many other recipes from magazines and newspapers have been crammed inside the covers. Acquired a few other books along the way too. I always knew that she had a most interesting and unusual life, full of adventure and escapades. Now, here it all is, laid out in all its craziness, exuberance, delight in life and joy. Food, of course is at the centre of it all, and it would seem from birth she was destined to live a life of around food, its preparation and sharing. A hilarious anecdote of 14 year old Annabel challenging the waitstaff at what was probably Wellington's poshest restaurant in the 1970s shows the audacity and intelligence of this child. One feels for her parents....but her mother was a sensational cook herself, and this is what saved Annabel. She leaves home at 17, on a homemade catamaran with a bunch of others who had never sailed before, right into a storm that just about kills them all, but typically for this pluckiest and adventurous youngster doesn't, washing her up in Gisborne where she sets about making a living for herself shooting possums and selling their skins. And begins to cook with the only cook book she can get her hands on - Julia Child. Her destiny was set. And off she went, with food, cooking, learning, dreaming, often living on nothing, open for anything, taking every opportunity and making her own. I expect she has been a right pain at times along the way, and it would be interesting and enlightening to see how others tell her story. But you don't get to be this successful without rubbing a few people up the wrong way! This book also has around 60 recipes, lovingly described and illustrated. It is a complete treat in every possible way.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one. Oliver was frustrated by it because he wanted to eat the beautiful food in the photos immediately. Annabel’s adventures are interesting and she just seems to bounce back after all sorts of adversity, I think that was the main irritation. She’s very privileged and I couldn’t help thinking that if she wasn’t blond and beautiful from a ‘right side of the track’ background some of the adventures might’ve gone differently. But where she ends up, appreciating diversity and connection to the land, fresh flavours, nothing fancy… that appeals.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've long been a massive fan of Langbein's - ever since I read a copy of Savour The Pacific in my bestie's Wellington kitchen almost 20 years ago. I rushed out and bought a copy before I came home & have bought everything she's put out since - plus found other books on ebay. I was, therefore, thrilled to receive this in the mail from that same friend. Bella is Langbein's memoir and it's a fabulous read. There are, of course, also recipes, but because this is mostly memoir it doesn't count as a cookbook - and that's what I'm telling my husband.

[Bridget Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating life! I had no idea this book would be so entertaining. Annabel has followed adventure all around the world. Her NZ upbringing made me feel very nostalgic.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story, fascinating life and tales

[Monique Prins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. I've been lucky enough to meet Annabel three times - twice in Amsterdam and once in New Zealand. Her cooking has inspired my own for so many years. She is my Julia Child. Her story is just as inspirational as her cooking. What a life and adventure! Loved every minute of it.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book which was something of a surprise to me. Not being a
great foodie or cook and not being inspired by what I had seen of her, it was kind of
reluctantly I decided to give it a go after being lent it by a friend.

What an interesting life story, particularly her earlier years!! What a worry she must have
been to her parents!

[Jackie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was recommended this book by some friends and was a bit unsure if I'd enjoy it..
BUT, I really loved reading it, so much so that I've bought my own copy.... after finishing it!
Book contains lots of interesting stuff about Annabel Langbeins journey (some interesting twists and turns along the way!!) and is also full of gorgeous recipes too!
Recommend!!!

[Lynne Paterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea Annabel Langbein was such a rebel! What a life - she has taken every opportunity to travel, meet people and experience food in local areas. Told with honesty and humour, interspersed with dazzling recipes, this book is one to own not just borrow!

[Anne-Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great combination of recipes as a crazy life

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come for the recipes and the reputation, stay for the hilarious stories of the tearaway youth of NZ's food queen.

[Cindy Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Who knew that Annabel had lead such a colourful and varied life at as a young woman. Her passion for good food and cooking shone through at every stage.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light read. Interesting insights into a full life.

[Angie Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Annabel is wonderful. Her stories are crack ups, the recipes look delicious and I felt like I got to travel the world through time. I am grateful for Annabel's work.

[Caro Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. She has lived a very full & interesting life. I haven’t tried the recipes though!!

[Em's Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, refreashing and thoughtful.

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

She has had a really interesting life!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book,what a great inspiring read.

[Tracee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5