Welcome

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My name is Janice Sutton and I am a writer who loves to cook!

 

I am also an internationally multi award-winning author and publisher (Magpie Publications) who is incredibly blessed to live in one of the most remote, breathtakingly beautiful corners of this earth - the island of Tasmania in Australia! 
 

I began my career as a BBC National Radio Researcher and Producer before moving to Australia, where unable to secure radio work with the ABC, I sashayed into print, writing reviews and articles for magazines as well as regional papers, including having my own monthly Arts Column for a time. Moving to Australia also provided me with the opportunity to complete a Masters Degree and to explore and develop my passion for design.

 

I created this website for fellow foodies, gastronomic travellers and enthusiastic home cooks, and for those who love beautiful food books.

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I also created this website to share artful food images and delicious recipes, including a scattering of recipes from some of Tasmania - and Australia's - most celebrated chefs and talented food producers, many of whom have generously shared some of their treasured recipes for my books: Garlic Feast: delicious garlic-inspired recipes for the quintessential garlic lover; Tomato: know, sow, grow, feast + Winter Wild: a feast of dark delights (two editions).​

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My first cookbook project was a collaboration with award-winning Tasmanian chef and cookbook author, Eloise Emmett: "The Real Food for Kids Cookbook" in 2015.

 

My first solo cookbook project was 'Garlic Feast: delicious garlic-inspired recipes for the quintessential garlic lover that both celebrated and sprang from the Koonya Garlic Festival, Australia's longest running garlic festival for which I was a founding coordinator. Garlic Feast holds a special place in my heart. It was a beautiful hardback coffee table book and much to my and the festival's delight went on to win international acclaim, circumnavigating the globe without me! The first edition sold out in 2021, but I am thrilled to share that a 2nd edition is in the offing!

 

Garlic Feast was followed by another co-authored book, Tomato: know, sow, grow, feast with Penny Woodward and Karen Sutherland, a gardening and cookbook that won GOLD at the IPPY's in New York in 2020, as well as a Joint Laurel for 'Best Gardening Book' at the Australian Horticultural Industry Media Awards the same year.

 

My most recent book project was Winter Wild: a feast of dark delights that celebrates Mona's Dark Mofo Winter Festival and in particular its spectacular Winter Feast as well as Tasmania's celebrated 'OFF Season'. The first edition was released in 2021 and won Australia Food Book of the Year (Fighting Covid) as well as Bronze for Best Cookbook and Gold for Best Coffee Table Book at the Independent Publisher Awards in New York in 2022, beating incredibly (how on earth did this happen?!) The Rolling Stones book 'Unzipped' published by Thames and Hudson.

 

That was the pinnacle of my career, or so I thought! To my amazement the 2nd revised and augmented edition of Winter Wild managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat winning, incredibly, the prestigious 'BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD' award across all categories at the 2025 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards held in Riyadh. Now that is truly Rock n Roll! This award was completely unexpected and an incredible honour! I still cant believe it! 

 

For me, this award is truly the achievement of a lifetime, and I am immensely grateful to the Gourmand family for bestowing Winter Wild with this esteemed award, as I am to my husband Paul and all the talented creatives who contributed to the book. Without them Winter Wild would simply not exist!.

 

I am delighted to share with you too that two more books are due for release in 2026/2027, a fun cocktail book inspired by MONA'S Dark Mofo Winter Festival - ostensibly the first volume of Winter Wild in a smaller format with a sprinkling of Mocktails and new cocktails thrown in, and the 2nd revised and augmented edition of Garlic Feast - my passion project!

 

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WHAT INSPIRES ME

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Food, Glorious Food!

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than creating and sharing delicious, home-cooked dishes with family and friends.

 

One of my greatest pleasures is also eating out, whether enjoying a casual picnic on the beach with friends; sharing piping hot freshly cooked fish and chips with my husband Paul overlooking Hobart's picturesque waterfront; firing up the 'Barbie' on a cold winter's night to devour a fire-cooked chook, or discovering new and exciting eateries and bars off and on the beaten track.

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Stories + Community

The inspiration for my books springs from the grassroots of the incredible community in which I live here on the ruggedly beautiful island of Tasmania.

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Slow Food

Nothing beats food that has been sown, grown, prepared, cooked and shared with love. Food that is locally and sustainably sourced, and that celebrates each season in all its scrumptious glory!

 

Tasmania - a 'Foodie Paradise'!

Due to its cool temperate climate and pristine clean air and water, Tasmania grows and produces some of the freshest, healthiest and tastiest food on earth. Launceston our second largest city is a UNESCO city of gastronomy.

 

Tasmania also punches big for its diminutive demographic, with a wealth of 'foodie events', award-winning restaurants, top class chefs, cooks and gourmet food producers, offering world class paddock to plate dining and food experiences.

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Food dreams can come true in Tasmania!

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Gourmet Traveller

Hailing from Scotland in the Northern Hemisphere originally, and later growing up in England's picturesque West Country, I enjoyed numerous trips over the years to Europe and other far flung destinations. This instilled in me a love of travelling, and an appreciation for food inspired by many different cultures around the world. 

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Gratitude!

I do not take for-granted how blessed I am to live with my beautiful husband Paul in such a glorious part of the world. Neither to I take for-granted the freedom I have been given later in life to indulge my creative passions.

 

It is an immense privilege for me to be able to share my food journey with you ...

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Janice x