Has anyone been watching Jamie Oliver’s new Channel 4 show, The Great Cookbook Challenge? Eighteen chefs/home cooks are competing to win a cookbook deal with Penguin imprint Michael Joseph. I can hardly bear to watch, it makes me so nervous.

Not sure why – our book Taste Tibet is already in the bag, and we didn’t have to dance in front of a camera to land the deal. We are so lucky! Our publisher Murdoch Books have been fantastic to work with and there is no one half as terrifying on the team as Michael Joseph MD and chief judge Louise Moore.

Last weekend Jamie Oliver wrote a piece for The Times that outlined just how competitive the cookbook market is: in 2020 more than 5,000 cookery titles were released in the UK, Of these only 556 sold more than 100 copies, and only 48 sold more than 5,000.

Never short of ambition, we hope that Taste Tibet sells. The recipes are one thing (those of you hanging out for our chicken curry secrets – we’ve held nothing back!) but we have plenty to say about how food is revered and enjoyed in Tibet at the same time. We believe there is a lot to be learned as we take a close look at conscious consumption Tibetan-style, the importance of understanding where our food comes from, of cooking and eating together, and so on.

Here’s the thing: pre-orders really matter. They make the booksellers buy more in, and the more copies the shops are stocking the greater visibility your book is going to have.

So we’re launching a competition to help you along! Just pre-order a copy of Taste Tibet through your local independent bookshop, Amazon, wherever you shop (maybe you already have 🙏🏽), upload your proof of purchase here, and you could be in with a chance of bagging an exclusivefree momo-making class with Chef himself!

Yeshi is offering this fantastic prize to three lucky winners and their guests here at Taste Tibet. Learn to make and fold momos with the expert, and all the tips and tricks you need to help you become a pro yourself. Just complete this google form – it only takes a minute to fill out – to be in with a chance.

In the meantime, real life continues, and we are open this week the usual hours:
Wednesday: 5-9.30pm (dinner only)Thursday – Saturday: 12-3pm (lunch) / 5-9.30pm (dinner) Come for takeaway, to dine in or order home delivery through Foodstuff. This week’s menu is live on the website now.

And here’s some great news – Foodstuff are offering 20% off all home deliveries this week. Checkout code incoming – keep checking in! Julie and Yeshi