{"title":"Max Allen","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the world of Max Allen, a celebrated author whose works beautifully blend the intricacies of cooking, food, science, and nature. Whether you're a culinary enthusiast or a nature aficionado, Max Allen's books offer engaging insights that will captivate your mind and palate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMax Allen's knack for storytelling is evident in works such as \u003cem\u003eAlternative Reality\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eBeggars Belief\u003c\/em\u003e. These books delve deep into the nuances of gastronomy and the wonders of the natural world, providing readers with an enlightening perspective that both informs and inspires. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eAlternative Reality\u003c\/em\u003e, Allen explores the imaginative possibilities within the culinary world, inviting readers to look beyond conventional food norms. Meanwhile, \u003cem\u003eBeggars Belief\u003c\/em\u003e takes readers on a captivating journey through scientific and natural phenomena, showcasing Allen's ability to enthral with compelling narratives and well-researched facts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover Max Allen's collection today and enjoy a unique blend of creativity and knowledge that will enrich your understanding of both the kitchen and the natural world.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"alternative-reality-by-max-allen-9781922779069","title":"Alternative Reality","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of why the Australian wine scene is the way it is today and get more enjoyment out of a wider range of delicious wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAustralian wine has been through a revolution over the last two decades. New grape varieties, new wine styles, new winemaking personalities, and cultures have emerged, dramatically changing how this country thinks about and enjoys wine. Much of this change can be traced to a wine competition in Mildura, in the remote northwest of Victoria.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSince 2001, the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show has examined and championed exciting new non-mainstream grapes (anything but chardonnay and shiraz), with a roll call of leading winemakers, sommeliers, writers, and viticulturists travelling from all over the country each November to talk and taste, to swap ideas, and to imagine a different wine landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlternative Reality\u003c\/em\u003e tells the story of those last two decades; not just of the show, but also of the wider world of Australian wine, through profiles of the key people who made it happen. It also includes comprehensive information about more than 150 different alternative grape varieties currently grown in Australia—what the wines made from these grapes taste like, and who the key producers are.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46341226332396,"sku":"9781922779069","price":50.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/16201813482872.jpg?v=1743847903"},{"product_id":"beggars-belief-by-max-allen-9781925556728","title":"Beggars Belief","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCyrano de Bergerac said, \"I have tried to live my whole life with panache.\" If I said that, I'd sound like a twat. But you get the drift. I'm off to bone some quails.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGerald Diffey has spent four decades immersed in the world of food, wine, and hospitality, from his early days waiting tables in old English hotels to establishing two of the best places in the world to drink and eat—the award-winning Gerald's Bar in North Carlton, which Heston Blumenthal described as \"a proper, proper old-fashioned sort of bar,\" and Gerald's Bar in San Sebastian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBeggars Belief\u003c\/em\u003e is a collection of funny, poignant, insightful, and just plain ludicrous stories from Gerald's life in kitchens and behind bars. It covers his formative years in the UK, memories of food and family, tales and tips from forty years of service, and journeys and meals that span people and places—from lunch on the side of a volcano in Sicily to dinner on a beach in East Timor. The book is filled with stories, recipes, and drink suggestions from North Carlton and San Sebastian, as well as vignettes, slices of life, and observations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the introduction, Gerald writes, \"Romance, that's what I sell. Sensual pleasures. Sights, sounds, smells, touch, taste.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46342560612588,"sku":"9781925556728","price":36.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/15892613482873.jpg?v=1743920045"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/max-allen.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}