It’s one of Scotland’s best-loved cafes, having earned its stripes as the place for locals, tourists, climbers, bikers and skiers to eat in Aviemore, and now The Mountain Café is sharing the secrets of its favourite dishes in a new cookery book Kirsten Gilmour.

The Mountain Café Cookbook: A Kiwi in the Cairngorms is the debut cookery book from chef and café owner, Kirsten Gilmour. Gilmour draws on her Kiwi roots to turn out contemporary dishes with an antipodean love for fresh and bold flavours.

With more than 130 recipes and luminescent photography by Paul Masson, readers will discover why Gilmour’s breakfasts are legendary for fuelling up for a day in the mountains; what makes her salads so inventive and flavour-packed; and the secrets behind her indulgent, luxurious cakes and slices.

The book also tells the story of Gilmour’s roundabout travels to Scotland – from rural New Zealand, to working as a chef in London to hiring out skis in the Cairngorms – and all the flavours picked up in between.

As well as favourites from the cafe, The Mountain Café Cookbook contains recipes drawn from her grandparents and influenced by her travels, including everything from Sloe Gin & Bramble Salmon Salad; Butternut Chilli & Coconut Fritters; Smoked Fish Chowder; and Cider Sage Barbecue Chicken; to Chocolate & Coconut Brioche; Vegan Carrot, Fruit & Nut Cake; Cardamom Oranges; Badass Brownies; and Passionfruit Melting Moments. 

All recipes are specially marked for special dietary requirements with additional tips for converting more dishes into gluten-free and vegan equivalents. With Gilmour’s warm but straight-talking voice leading them through, readers will confidently be able to recreate dishes that taste just as good as the famous Mountain Café originals.

The Mountain Café Cookbook: A Kiwi in the Cairngorms by Kirsten Gilmour is published in hardback by Kitchen Press Publishing on 14 February 2017 and will be available nationwide, priced at £20.

Find out more about The Mountain Café at http://mountaincafe-aviemore.co.uk