ckbk Blog

Author profile: Cheong Liew

Cheong Liew is widely regarded as the Father of East-West Fusion Food. He’s been named one of the ‘ten hottest chefs alive’ by American Food & Wine Magazine and, in 1999, was the first Australian chef to be recognized with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his role in “developing and influencing the style of contemporary Australian cuisine”. We are delighted to add to ckbk both his classic cookbook My Food (1995) and its 2025 followup Inside My Food, a memoir with recipes. In this feature Cheong’s friend and fellow cookbook author Roberta Muir speaks to the chef about his recipes, food philosophy and the diverse influences on his cooking.

Author ProfileSusan LowJune 23, 2025Cheong Liew, My Food, Inside My Food, Roberta Muir

Newsletter: 🎁 Tasty goodies for Father’s Day + great home cooking from chef Adam Byatt 👨‍🍳

Newsletter: 🎁 Tasty goodies for Father’s Day + great home cooking from chef Adam Byatt 👨‍🍳

This Sunday, June 15, is Father’s Day, a day to take a moment and express a bit of gratitude to the men in our lives who guide us, have our backs, who we look to for love and inspiration. So, for all those who father us, thank you. And for those of you wanting to give a bit more than a hug or a phone call, we’ve got treats. You know what they say about a man’s heart and his stomach…

ckbkJune 13, 2025Father's Day, Guild of Food Writers, Cupcakes, Strawberries

Newsletter: 🍝 An Italian Feast from Antonio Carluccio + and enjoy 'free-from' treats with The Flexible Baker 📚

Newsletter: 🍝 An Italian Feast from Antonio Carluccio + and enjoy 'free-from' treats with The Flexible Baker 📚

‘All Italians love to eat well. You do not need a lot of money to enjoy good Italian food. What you need is imagination, knowledge, a little patience for preparation and enough of a desire to live happily and healthily. This, I believe, is the Italian culinary philosophy.’ Antonio Carluccio

ckbkJune 5, 2025Burgers, Vegetarian, Tomatoes, Photography

Food photography with Rupa: Part 3 – Compose with Confidence

Food photography with Rupa: Part 3 – Compose with Confidence

Here’s the latest installment of my series for ckbk readers where I show you how to level up your food photos using just your phone, no fancy kit needed.

So far, we’ve covered Camera Settings and Lighting. Now, we’re moving on to Step 3: Composition— the way you frame and arrange your food to guide your viewer’s eye and create real visual impact.

EducationSusan LowJune 4, 2025Photography, Rupa Nagamootoo, Food Photography with Rupa, Composition

A Postcard from Sri Lanka

A Postcard from Sri Lanka

In her Postcard from Sri Lanka, food TV producer Antonia Lloyd takes us on a sensory journey through the Indian Ocean island’s lush landscapes and vibrant kitchens. The rich and diverse cuisine of the island is shaped by centuries of trade, colonial influence, and both Buddhist and Tamil tradition. From hoppers at breakfast to fiery roadside curries, it's a delicious portrait of a country where spice is a way of life.

Regional cookingSusan LowMay 27, 2025Antonia Lloyd, Sri Lanka, Serendip, Hidden Kitchens of Sri Lanka, Lands of the Curry Leaf

Food photography with Rupa: Part 2 – Light it Right

Food photography with Rupa: Part 2 – Light it Right

Welcome to the second installment of Food Photography with Rupa, my 7-part series for ckbk users designed to help you elevate your food visuals with confidence using just your phone.

In Part 1, we covered the essential camera settings for food photography. This time, we’re turning our attention to something I consider a real cornerstone of food photography: light.

EducationSusan LowMay 21, 2025Photography, Rupa Nagamootoo, Food Photography with Rupa

Author Profile: Christina Pirello

Christina Pirello teaches whole food cooking at Walnut Hill College as well as via her web site and her Emmy-award winning PBS TV series. We just added Christina’s 2021 cookbook The Macroterranean Way to ckbk’s collection (it will soon be joined by Vegedibles, published by the author in 2023). In our latest Author Q&A, Christina shares some of the secrets behind her enduring career as a culinary educator.

Author ProfileSusan LowMay 14, 2025Christine Pirello, The Macroterranean Way, Vegedibles, Education, Vegan, Healthy

A postcard from Hungary

A postcard from Hungary

Author Kerstin Rodgers is fascinated by food history and anthropology and takes frequent research trips around the world to pursue these interests. She has made several trips to Hungary, most recently to the paprika growing area of Szeged, near the Romanian border.

Regional cookingSusan LowMay 12, 2025Hungary, Paprika, Strudel, Goulash, George Lang, The Cuisine of Hungary, Kerstin Rodgers

Food photography with Rupa: Part 1 – iPhone Settings & Setup

I’m a professional food and lifestyle photographer, content creation educator, and founder of Your Creative Vision. I’m based in London, and I teach foodies, chefs, bakers, restaurateurs, and food entrepreneurs all over the world how to create beautiful, scroll-stopping content using just their phones—no fancy camera needed.

Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing with ckbk a series of bite-sized tips from my upcoming online course, “7 Steps to Standout Food Content”, a simple approach that will help you photograph food more confidently, consistently, and creatively, whether you are doing so for work or just for fun!

EducationSusan LowMay 7, 2025Photography, Rupa Nagamootoo, Food Photography with Rupa

New feature: Nail your meal planning with ckbk's Pinned Recipe feature

New feature: Nail your meal planning with ckbk's Pinned Recipe feature

Need a quick way to flip back and forth between several recipes? Whether you are choosing which option to go with, or midway through cooking a multi-course feast, ckbk’s new pinned recipe feature is here to help.

Product featuresSusan LowMay 1, 2025New features