About

My name is Martyna and Wholesome Cook is a portfolio of sorts for my recipe development and testing business and a place where I explore natural, additive-free and allergy-friendly recipe ideas that come to mind. ‘We’ are based in Sydney, Australia but often venture out into the world of culinary delights in our own backyard, and abroad.

About the food and photography

I’m always looking for new and inspiring recipes, constantly experiment with ingredients and flavour combinations and keep my eyes peeled for wholesome natural ingredients. Most of my recipes are original, developed in my humble kitchen, but from time to time I like sharing recipes that have been tried and tested by celebrity chefs, cookbook authors and other home cooks. I give credit where it is due.

When it comes to photography and food styling, they became my second passion by default. To me, a cookbook without relevant emotive food photography is just a collection of notes that can never truly ‘speak’ to my desire to cook good food, because food is a sensory experience. It’s impossible to convey many of the wonderful aromas of cooking on paper so photography tends to be an important aspect of what I do.

Featured, mentioned and published

I am a regular contributor to the Honest Cooking magaizine, a category winner of the 2012 Saveur Best Blog Awards. Some of Wholesome Cook’s creations have been picked up by other websites including RACQ The Road Ahead Lifestyle and Phoenix New Times, and I’ve been featured on Yummly and the Kitchn. My Easter egg decorting tips have been featured with a mention in an Edible Blooms newsletter. I have also been asked to constribute recipes to a US Lifestyle blog, VIA Los Angeles.

Finalist in the Royal Selangor 30-day Get Your Jelly On Challenge – Guillaume’s terrine in the top 5 recipes. Invited as part of only 10 bloggers worldwide.

Finalist in the Melting Pot recipe competition, with a chance for the recipe to appear in Australia’s first crowd sourced cookbook.

Wholesome Cook has had the honour of being freshly pressed twice in its first year – quite a humbling but exhilirating experience at the same time. My Homemade Peking duck, alongside the 5 ingredient dulce de leche and chilli chocolate tart, were the lucky ones picked out of the crowd by the WP team.

A note about pr: accepting product samples and promotions

I happily accept, use and feature products that fit my healthy food philosophy, and in every case I disclose the sources those products came from. If you are a producer or a PR agency and have a product that fits the profile, feel free to get in touch for a feature, professional recipe development or to donate products for giveaways. However, as much as I would love to and I try hard to discuss this prior to accepting, I cannot automatically guarantee that they will be featured on the blog or mentioned via my social media profiles.

25 other things about Wholesome Cook and I

Food is my passion. I wake up thinking about food. I cook it. I eat it. Then at night I even dream of it!
This is my first attempt at a blog, although I have been toying with the idea of one for some time…
I used to have a cat when I was younger and she loved pizza.
The aim of Wholesome Cook is to create a point of reference for healthy, nutritious and easy to prepare meals, without breaking the bank or over-complicating things. Think of it as an anti-revolution to the world of highly processed, fast-food and pre-packaged meals.
Most of the inspiration and recipes on this site comes from my Mum, who taught me how to balance flavours, experiment with ingredients and explore different cuisines.
I enjoy research: majority of my books and magazines are about food.
I cringe at food additives.
I’ve never been good at those “Tell us in 25 words or less” competitions.
Last supper meal for me would be, gosh there are so many… Sourdough sandwich with gruyere, mushrooms and seeded mustard, buttered on the outside, toasted.
I am currently in love with… China!
I cannot live without my Mundial knives.
Favourite food-related quote: “If we’re not willing to settle for junk living, we certainly shouldn’t settle for junk food.” ~Sally Edwards
~~I do not own a DSLR.~~ Up until mid Jan 2012 I didn’t own one (used a Panasonic Lumix LX-5) now I do have a Cannon 550D.
I’d like to learn more about Asian cuisine flavours, cooking techniques, the lot.
This may come as a surprise, but I’m not a big fan of chocolate ice-cream.
This may also come as a surprise, but I am an occasional fan of hot potato chips.
I enjoy eating out at quality eateries and restaurants, then use the inspiration to create [or try to recreate] yummy dishes for home use.
Coffee. I’m addicted.
Foie gras, not so much. I once watched a show about the making of it, and I still have certain images in my head that preclude me from thoroughly appreciating it.
My harshest and best food critics are Mr Chipconnoisseur and his two gorgeous kiddiewinks.
I love growers’ markets and fresh food festivals.
Caterpillars love my herbs.
I’ll have a slice of warm sourdough over a glass of champagne any day.
I’m not a nutritionist or a dietician, just a traditional common-sense, fresh food cook.
Have I mentioned that I wake up thinking about food? I cook it. I eat it. Then at night I even dream of it?