A Table in the Orchard

In the tradition of life-changing memoirs like Salvation Creek, a food-obsessed former city slicker creates her own slice of heaven in a rambling old country house on the Apple Isle.

We've been there and done that with slow cooking gurus, celebrity cooks, master chefs and more than a few tree change books, and there are many pretty lifestyle books and blogs out there, but nothing is as instantly lipsmackingly appealing as Michelle Crawford's personal slice of heaven in Tasmania.

Organising cocktail parties at the Opera House and drinking French champagne sounds perfectly glamorous, and for a long time it was for Michelle. But after the birth of her daughter, Elsa, the glamour started to fade and she developed a yearning for country life that could no longer be ignored. She wanted to grow her own food and, even better, learn how to cook it. She dreamed of wearing gum boots every day and creating a country childhood for her daughter - an Enid Blyton childhood filled with outdoor adventures, good things to eat and lashings of ginger beer. Just a glimpse at her hugoandelsa blog shows how she has made that dream a reality and her knack for finding beauty in the simple things of life. She inspires us to think maybe we could conjure some of the daily magic she performs so effortlessly while enjoying her better than good life in a rambling old farmhouse in the Huon Valley in Tasmania.

Add glorious colour images and the sorts of recipes that have made Michelle's blog so popular and you have a beautiful colour book to treasure that reminds us all about how seductive a little bit of slow living might be.

Thanks to Michelle, you can but dream from the safety of our armchairs- especially about the oodles of homemade cake - but in the meantime her story may help you take some baby steps and be inspired to make your own jam or hot crumpets . . . or maybe move to Tasmania.

About the Author

Ten years after ditching the bright lights of Sydney for the Tasmanian countryside, when not wrangling two children, a husband, 10 chickens or nurturing a large vegie patch, Michelle Crawford is busy recipe testing, food styling for cookbooks, working as a food curator for events, running workshops or writing her popular blog, hugoandelsa.com. What motivates Michelle is a passion for real food and getting to know the people who produce it. A devoted cook and eater, she can often be found exploring the countryside for fresh produce from local growers and spending far too long talking to them about potatoes.