Cookbook author and chef Úlfar Finnbjörnsson was nominated in the Best Publisher category. His book, Stóra bókin um Villibráð, or the Big Book about Game Meat is an encyclopedia about everything concerning game meat.

The book covers everything from hunting for game to the finer details of cutting and carving the meat to cooking a delicious game for friends, family as well as in a professional setting. The book was chosen to represent Iceland at the fair this year but only one book from each country is selected.

Úlfar is a chef and member of staff for local culinary magazine, Gestgjafinn, and a game meat enthusiast. Úlfar was among the attendees at the 2012 Paris Cookbook Fair due to the nomination for the awards.

The book illustrates beautifully the magnificent and desolate Icelandic nature through the photographs of Karl Peterson and drawings by Jón Baldur Hlíðberg. A chapter written by Dominique Plédel Jónsson about wine and game is included in the book.

The book was published last autumn by Icelandic publishing house Salka where news of the prestigious honor was reported. This is not the first time Salka’s published work is among the finalists at the Gourmand World Cook Awards.

Delicious Iceland was rewarded an honorary award at the Gourmand Cookbook Fair in Beijing. The book is available in English. Salka also publishedThe Fishmarket, another cookbook available in English, by local chef Hrefna Rósa Sætran.

This year’s winner was Patagonia Cuisines (Gourmet Patagonia) from Chile by Francisco Fantini.

JB