Maxim Behar's book about Seychelles cuisine and culture wins global award   |13 December 2023

A new book about Seychelles’ cuisine and culture written by Seychelles honorary consul general in Bulgaria, Maxim Behar, has been recognised as the best cook book in the world for 2023 among authors from over 200 countries

The new book entitled ‘The Magic of Seychelles Cuisine and Stories from the Paradise on Earth, has been named ‘Best in the World’ by the international Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2023 in the category ‘Book about Africa published outside Africa’.

This was the 29th edition of the prestigious award ceremony, which this year was held in Saudi Arabia with the participation of authors from over 200 countries around the world.

Set to elevate Seychelles’ cuisine and culture globally, the book is now available in English, Bulgarian and soon in French.

Sharing his excitement, Mr Behar said: “This award is a great recognition of Seychelles and its cultural richness, which makes me very happy and proud to be able to introduce readers to this wonderful destination. In fact, the book contains all the essentials – 25 special recipes from Seychellois cuisine, many interesting stories about the Seychelles and its locals, and a great selection of photos taken by me over the years.”

‘The Magic of Seychelles Cuisine and Stories from the Paradise on Earth’is a book that will inspire you to try something new in the kitchen and take you on a journey to Seychelles with delicious and easy to prepare Seychellois dishes combined with memorable stories. Readers will have the opportunity to learn about the culture and traditions of Seychelles as well as enjoy traditional Creole cuisine – from classic seafood specialties to local dishes with exotic ingredients. The book is not just for chefs and culinary enthusiasts – it presents Seychelles as a place where nature, culture and food create a true sense of ‘Paradise on Earth’.

The English version of the book has a dedication on the back cover, written by legendary Seychelles musician Joe Samy: “Our Seychelles Honorary Consul General in Bulgaria Mr Maxim Behar certainly knows the reasons why he has fallen in love with the Seychelles Islands. One of these reasons is certainly this unique blend of culinary traditions that has been flourishing for more than 250 years with the arrival of the first French, African, Indian and Chinese settlers to the shores of the Seychelles Islands. With great pride Maxim Behar has once more seized the opportunity to share his love for my country to the world, and this time through its cuisine…”

The book initially debuted in Bulgarian and is currently accessible in various formats, including print, digital, and audio. Moreover, it is now available in English for sale on Amazon, with an upcoming release in French.

The book appeared shortly after Maxim Behar's participation in the Bulgarian TV show ‘The Cherry on The Cake’, where he demonstrates admirable culinary skills as the host of an exotic Seychelles dinner. With a good presentation of Creole cuisine and his stories about Seychelles, Mr Behar managed to trigger the viewers' interest in the destination.

Among Maxim Behar's achievements as an author are the bestsellers The Camino Way. Quick, Easy and For Fun, The Morning After and The Global PR Revolution, which achieved impressive success and ranked in the Top 100 PR Books of All Time, according to one of the most prestigious global book rankings BookAuthority. All of Maxim Behar's books can be viewed at the official website www.beharbooks.com.

Text & photos contributed