Paul and Jeanne Rankin met in Greece while travelling the world. Trained in cooking in Australia, they arrived in California where Paul began experimenting with his own ideas and recipes. Their book Gourmet Ireland (BBC Books, £15.99 in the UK) is filled with mouth-watering dishes, ranging from traditional family meals to exotic recipes for dinner guests. Basic recipes and more adventurous dishes are all included, and vegetarian recipes are clearly marked.

Cleverly-laid-out chapters with intriguing titles make this wonderfully illustrated book a must in everyone's kitchen.