Sepia

Book excerpt: Renowned chef Martin Benn takes the reader on a culinary journey through 60 of his exciting dishes. Based around four degustation menus, the book highlights the technical mastery and sheer beauty of Martin's food, with its deep connections to Japanese cuisine and flavours and its focus on texture and contrast. Included is the recipe for Martin's incredibly intricate, exquisite Chocolate Forest Floor. Text, design and photography combine to recreate the atmosphere and the sophisticated, art deco feel of his Sydney restaurant, Sepia. Interspersed among the menus are narrative features exploring the workings of the restaurant, and the stories of its staff and clientele, while location photography captures a sense of old-fashioned, cosmopolitan glamour.