The 'Cult Recipes' series from Murdoch Books are excellent insights to regional cooking. Very far removed from the staid regional cookbooks of days past, which tended to be packed with hundreds of recipes (worthy but sometimes dull or complicated) and few pictures, the 'Cult Recipe' books focus on particular cities, capturing the essence of that particular region’s cuisine with signature dishes from some of the best eateries, explanations of base ingredients, and wonderful insights into places and the people who are passionate about their food. Delving into Tokyo Cult Recipes by Maori Murota is inspiring and informative. The chapters take you from breakfast through to dinner, with further chapters on Izakaya (tapas-style bar food) and home cooking. There are small descriptive details about food-related utensils (ceramics, kitchenware) and Japanese classics (miso, rice balls) that lend nice breaks between the recipes. This isn’t a series for the beginner cook, but for those who love food and are curious to stretch their culinary repertoire. The photography and layout are stylish and include the food, the places (markets and eateries) and the chefs of everyday Tokyo.    {Reviewed by STELLA} Also in stock: 'Cult Recipes' of Istanbul, Venice and New York.