A Melbournian who's worth their weight in macaroons, will tell you that July days are for good food and good browsing.
Fitzroy shop
Books for Cooks is a true Melbourne citizen. The Gertrude street store is everything a hungry shopper needs on a cold day: a sprawling book collection, deliciously narrow aisles and the most helpful and knowledgeable staff you'll find in the city.
Not to mention that every title in the store has a culinary focus, ranging from celebrity chef bibles to antique cooking collectables.
This cosy depository has held a place in the streetscape for years before Masterchef was even born. As a result, a savvy shopper will be able to find even the most obscure cooking title, with the help of passionate staff who were on the bandwagon before anyone else.
As grey sky closes in this winter, Books for Cooks is one of those places that is sure to erase inner city fatigue. Five minutes inside the store and you'll be lifted by the spiced cookie scent of the space; not to mention that great moment when you strike up a conversation with a perfect stranger who's also after a compendium of Asian desserts.
The shop is also one of those rare spots in which a gift can be found for any age. Now that the city is crazy for cookery, adults and kids alike will be able to find a title to interest them, whether it's high end cuisine or thirty minute meals that they're after.
Just a stroll from the 86 tram line on Smith street, this shop is a cult favourite for bringing together some of the more lovely elements of our city – literature, food and a sense of community.
If you want room to open up a celebrity chef's tome without hitting a fellow shopper in the face, go early in the day – it gets quite squishy once all the punters pile in.
