Oh I so wanted to enjoy this one and was disappointed with myself that I didn’t as clearly, a lot of work has gone into it. It’s so specific in content that I found myself bogged down in the quagmire of lengthy history that just didn’t grip me and eventually I just flicked through until I just stopped flicking and gave up. Sadly nothing in this book interested me but I think her previous books would so I’m off to take a look.

Definitely on the higher-brow than your average cookbook, this discusses the history of the Low Countries (Benelux without the Lux bit) before it gets to food. It's aimed at honouring and reviving the traditional, feast day-type baking of these realms. To that end, we get (possibly over-large) images and (potentially over-long) essays before hitting the first recipe, for a beery waffle. Many other waffles follow – each slightly different due to their mixture and of course their size, depth and decoration courtesy the relevant waffle iron. Yes, you could be discussing semantics here for all I know, for several browsers here will see little that is vital in the differences between them all.

Next comes certain breads, even a Grecian-styled one, pancakes, krakelingen and pretzels – stuff that I am sure tastes marvellous, but which I have no intention (nor capacity) to make. Vlaais and taarts galore could keep you more than occupied, and if the likes of Amelie and Chocolat were to combine, provide you with more than enough to find a perfect shop to bake and sell it all in, alongside the love of your life. This is stuffed with such wish-fulfilment on a plate, or just sold in a paper bag on a street corner to a winsome lass, if the portrait photography involved is anything to go by.

As a result it seems at first glance to have less concern for the kitchen-bound practicalities, and more concern for the heritage, the vintage appeal, the romance. But even the briefest of glimpses shows these recipes are easily followable, and while I don't regret never becoming a home baker I can see that this would have entertained me royally if I had done so.

Earnest, sincere, high-falutin' in visuals and yet accessible to all, this does definitely pack the historical essays in alongside the recipes more than you may ever have seen before, but there's very little to fault. Even from someone like me, for whom this is so not aimed, this smacks of being a cherishable success. A strong four stars.

I have been following Regula Ysewijn's culinary scholarship for years. Her Instagram is an erudite vision of complex and delicious culinary history. Lesser-known baking marvels of the British Isles and Europe. She has done it again in Dark Rye and Honey Cake. Even you can't procure rye flour to make bread, the sumptuous historical detail and meticulous recipes will enchant you throughout the book. An easy five stars.

There are some great receipes in this book that I would definitely try. I was given this book to review by Netgalley so it was in Kindle version. I do prefer cooking books to be in hardback. The book describes each dish and gives the history of the dish before the each receipe which is interesting to know how the dish came about.

My Mum & I Really Enjoyed the Recipes in this Book, Highly Recommended for any budding Baker!
(Thanks to Net Galley for this Book.)

Such an interesting read! There is so much I don't know about history of these countries in Europe and I absolutely loved learning about them. I would say that it is a bit dense to read in one sitting, and since it is a cookbook it tends to make you think you can do that. However, the recipes are what truly makes the book unique. Full of sweet recipes that make my mouth water and I'm itching to bake as soon as I open the page.

The perfect cookbook, I have so much envy that this is not on my cooking bookshelf in my kitchen. The book is beautiful and bright.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

Is gorgeous book full of delicious recipes photography that will make you drool.The information about the low country was fascinating to me.A book I will be purchasing for my kitchen library.#netgalley #murdochbooks.

This is such a lovely book to dip into. There are fascinating stories of foodstuffs in the Low Countries of which I knew nothing about - a whole new cuisine to discover. I particularly enjoyed the author's inclusion of paintings from the eras she discussed showing how food was served and eaten at fairs for example. The recipes themselves are very tempting - I am sure, like me you'll end up wanting a waffle iron! They are clearly described and well researched. Definitely a book for foodies.

I always love a good cookbook and when there are stories attached it makes it all that more real. You know the recipes have been tried and tested over the years. This book is cookbook, history lesson, short stories and is a great book to add to my ever growing recipe book collection.

The wonderful and delightful recipes looked good enough to eat, the recipes themselves are ones I will be trying out in my home and the stories really do go hand in hand with the recipes. It inspires me to be creative and makes me want to get in the kitchen and start cooking.

I love it and will now have to go out a buy a proper copy to add to my heaving shelves. It will fit right in.

I loved this book, it literally made my mouth water. Beautiful pictures, delicious sounding recipes and great stories. Looking forward to trying some of these very festive sounding treats.

What a beautiful book! As the owner of two bookshelves containing nothing but cookbooks (and having given away probably the same number again) it’s rare to find a book that fills me with inspiration and this book does this along with joy and an immediate desire to dig that waffle pan out of my equally stuffed pan drawer