About Peta

Author

Having started off her culinary love affair in 1980 in Paris with her restaurant 'Rose Blues' in the 5th arrondissement, Peta returned to New Zealand ten years later to teach, cook and write.  'Fête Accomplie', a book about life in Paris including recipes, was the first of Peta's award winning gastronomic travel books written about Morocco, France, New Zealand, Ireland, Vietnam and India.

'Can We Help It If We're Fabulous?', a book about women, came out in August 2008. It was an instant bestseller, is still being reprinted and has now been published in Great Britain, the USA, Canada and Germany. Then came 'A Matter of Taste' – a book of photographs of women's accessories made of food taken by Italian photographer Fulvio Bonavia, with text by Peta. This was followed by 'Just In Time To Be Too Late – why men are like buses' in 2009 and 'Beat Till Stiff' – stories of transformation, was published in November 2011.

In 2014 'Hot Pink Spice Saga - an Indian Culinary Travelogue With Recipes‘  won Best Culinary Travel Book from NZ in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Peta’s memoir of sorts, 'Never Put All Your Eggs in One Bastard', was released in October 2016 then in 2019 came ‘Eat Your Heart Out’, unusual love stories from around the world. 'Shed Couture' is about fashion and clothing, released by Penguin Random House September 2021. Peta’s latest book ‘It’s Been Six Weeks Since My Last Confession’ is a collection of wild, witty and wicked stories from her life – to be released on 12 October 2025.

Gastronomad

Television & Entertainment

For 12 years Peta presented the award winning prime time travel/food shows 'Taste New Zealand', 'Taste Takes off' and 'A Taste of Home'. Following that she set up her own production company 'Red Head Media' with colleagues, to make the food/travel television series 'Peta Unplugged in Marrakech', 'Ten Recipes For Fabulous Summer Entertaining' and 'Culinary Adventures in the South of France'.

Peta is an in-demand event speaker who regales her audiences with uncensored tales of her escapades and adventures, cooking tips, her philosophy on ageing and 'it ain't over till it's over' attitude. Peta talks about life's opportunities and how you have to keep contributing, learning and laughing.

Awards