Nelson’s best selling cookbook author Shelley Adams, can now add award nominee to her list accomplishments.
Adams’ third cookbook Whitewater Cooks with Friends has been shortlisted for the University of Guelph’s Taste of Canada food writing awards.
“I’d entered the other two books as well, but I had never even been shortlisted to the top 10 so I entered this one as soon as it was published in October and I sent in all the books,” she told the Star last week. “Two months later they let me know that I had been shortlisted to the top 10. I was very excited and with that email they said on August 1 they would let me know if I was in the top three.”
At 6 a.m. on August 1(9 a.m. Toronto time), Adams got out of bed and rushed to her computer to log on to the Taste of Canada website.
She eagerly clicked on the Shortlist Top 3 2012 tab.
“My name was there,” she said. “I was so excited. There was my name, little Shelley Adams.”
In the category of general cookbooks, Adams has some stiff competition. Celebrity chef Michael Smith — known for his Chef at Home TV series — is nominated for his book Chef Michael Smith’s Kitchen, and the third contender is Jennifer McLagan’s Odd Bits.
“I’m just thrilled that they looked at it and liked it because it’s quite a little Nelson thing,” she said. “It tells you to go to Ellison’s, it’s so local, and little. I’m thrilled that it got there.”
Adams has become a household name throughout Nelson and even the Kootenays for her best selling Whitewater cookbook series, but said the third has really become a customer favourite.
“Most people are saying it’s their favourite because it’s really simple and everybody likes the look the most,” she said.
“The very simplicity of how the method and recipe is explained is well received. I would say the first and the third are the most popular. The first one has really started to sell hugely again since the third came out.”
With the nomination under her belt, Adams is starting to think of what’s next.
“I want to do a fourth book,” she said. “I’m in the midst of thinking of bottling some sauces as well like the Glory Bowl dressing and the fish marinade and the maple vinaigrette. If I can make people’s lives easier for them, then why not.”
Adams will be attending the awards ceremony for Taste of Canada on November 6 with her husband, kids and a couple girlfriends.
