Fran Mazza is a half Italian pastry chef, with a flair for design. She is also a hard-working mother of three children, and knows the time limitations that operate in most modern households. This book offers over 100 great recipes for people who enjoy tasty food that can be cooked easily with readily available ingredients.

Together, Fran and her husband Aaron Carson have been the masterminds behind a series of highly popular Auckland cafes, scattered around the city and suburbs – from Winona Forever and Fang in Parnell, to Major Tom in Albany and Just Like Martha in Three Kings, their trademark original artworks, vibrant fit-outs and food that is fresh, colourful and tasty have made each and every cafe a success within its community – and also become destinations in themselves for people wanting great flavour and good atmosphere. Interspersed between the recipes are the stories of each of these cafes – the idea behind them, how their names were chosen, and the communities in which they operate.