Biota ─ Grow, Gather, Cook

Biota is about habitat-inspired food using local produce to create pure dishes, with each recipe telling a story of how that dish came to be. Underpinning James Viles' food is a celebration of the balance of animal and plant life. His food brings together ingredients, textures and flavors that exist alongside each other in nature. There are 60 recipes, with accompanying stories, that reflect on the notion of biota, "the animals and plant life of a particular region" and the philospohy of using what is at hand. The recipes are home-cook friendly while the lush photography captures the shooting, hunting and foraging that James does for Biota; showcasing the local flora and fauna. The message is simple—listen to the local environment, learn from Mother nature, and take your inspiration and intuition from the very place that surrounds you. Includes dual measures.

Chef and owner of two-hatted Biota Dining & Rooms in New South Wales, James Viles has become one of Australia's most repected young chefs and restaurateurs, recognized for his commitment to sustainability and his imaginative modern food. This is his first book.