Beautiful, thoughtful cooking is the simplest way to bring joy to any home, and Danielle Alvarez's recipes, skills, wisdom, and whimsy deliver the foundations for a lifetime of happiness in the kitchen, at the table, and beyond.

It draws on her love of Italian and French food, her Cuban roots, time spent cooking in California and then in Australia, and all the incredible Asian influences that have coloured her time in Sydney.

The recipes are eclectic because her interests in flavour are diverse. We are so lucky to live in a world where one night we might be cooking something Indian, then next something Italian and then something Australian. Danielle celebrates this luxury, then applies the essential principles of respecting where food comes from and preparing it with care and attention.

Wherever you live, if you have a basic grocery store, you can adopt and enjoy the 100-plus recipes in this book. Every idea – from easy weeknight meals such as a Zucchini frittata or a hearty Cavolo nero and anchovy risotto, to more elaborate weekend projects like Bolognese with homemade Tagliatelle or a Sweet and sour cumin lamb shoulder, to gorgeous desserts such as Plum galette with a fennel crème anglaise – is designed to help you find happiness in your kitchen with the best that is available to you, and according to the ebbs and flows of your mood, budget, and tastes.