Jan Bilton

Order Cookbooks

New Weekly Recipes

Travel & More

Taste Waikato

What's New?

Recipes for success from best selling, multi award-winning cookbook author and syndicated newspaper columnist,

Let me share with you the pleasures and experience gained through a lifetime of working in the world of food. Author of 27 cookbooks, including the best-selling New Zealand Kiwifruit Cookbook (140,000 copies sold internationally) and Marlborough on the Menu (winner of Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards 2010 for Best Food/Wine Guide); food and lifestyle magazine editor (Living Today, The Foodtown Magazine); syndicated columnist, travel writer, restaurant owner — and home cook.

My Mantra is: Real Food for Real People. Please join me for a taste.

Recipes, Wines and Restaurants

BAKES YULE LOVE

December 9th 2025The festive fruitcake as we know it today dates back to the Middle Ages. In the 13th century, dried fruits were transported to Britain from the eastern Mediterranean. As a result, breads became lightRead more

SAVOUR THE SIZZLE

October 30th 2025My favourite animal is steak,’ quipped American writer Fran Lebowitz. And yes, there’s nothing quite like a perfectly grilled beef steak. It’s ‘feel good’ food and it can be dressed upRead more

Potato Salad on Sticks

October 30th 20251kg small waxy (boiling) potatoes Vinaigrette: 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Topping: 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed 2 tablespoonsRead more

CHINESE DELIGHTS

September 9th 2025Our three-plus week stint in China was primarily to experience the history and culture and enjoy the stunning scenery. But I was also keen to discover if there had been any distinct changes to theRead more

WOK WIZARDRY

August 29th 2025Woks are versatile. Their use is not just limited to stir-frying. You can steam, smoke, braise or simmer, deep or shallow fry. The wok’s shape was originally dictated by the Chinese hob that hadRead more

CRISP AND DELICIOUS

June 23rd 2025I had resisted buying an air fryer even though several friends were swearing these cookers were the best thing since sliced bread. I gave in because I was asked to write an opinion piece. And I fell Read more

Question: WHO WAS MARLBOROUGH’S FIRST WINEMAKER?

June 23rd 2025 Read more

A+ FOR AVOCADOS

May 6th 2025According to my son, there’s not a meal in the house if there isn’t an avocado in the fruit bowl. And he was delighted to discover a new variety, the AvoGrey®, twice the size of a Hass.Read more

FAB FEIJOA CAKE

April 2nd 2025 Read more

RED HOT RED CENTRE

March 18th 2025Michael G. Ryan explores Australia's mystical heart.Read more

TEMPTING TOMATO TREATS

March 9th 2025Small, yellow — and supposedly an aphrodisiac — the first tomato was native to the Peruvian Andes. Over the years it has had many name changes, transformations and descriptions. Few vegetables haRead more

YULE BE SWEET

December 15th 2024“Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” Miles Kington, British journalist. Fabulous, flavoursome, healthy, versatile — summer stone fruits andRead more

Irvine Holt

RECIPE COLLECTION

Enjoy the online recipe library. Recipes and photos by food writer Jan Bilton.

View Recipes

COOKBOOKS

Celebrate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. From the team that brought you Marlborough on the Menu, Winner 2010 Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Award for Best Food/Wine Guide. Read More

CONTACT IRVINE HOLT

Jan Bilton
+64 21 627 771

janbilton@irvineholt.co.nz
irvineholt@gmail.com