Helen Goh in Conversation with Jaclyn Crupi

Join us for a far-ranging conversation about baking, why we do it, and what it means.

Baking and the Meaning of Life By Helen Goh

When we bake, it's never just about the richness of the butterscotch or the crisp flakiness of the pastry. For many, the act of baking itself is meaningful. Whether you're a beginner or a veteran baker, when you roll up your sleeves and get out the weighing scales, you do it for reasons far beyond the mere production of a piece of food. Few know this better than Helen Goh, recipe developer with Ottolenghi for more than a decade, baking columnist and co-author of bestsellers Sweet and Comfort and, uniquely, a practising psychologist. In this, her first solo cookbook, Helen draws on her own life to bring together 100 favourite recipes and show how baking is the ultimate vehicle to convey joy, connection and personal growth. There's the buttery chocolate babka Helen and her son love to make together, the golden brown pancakes that are her secret weapon for brunch, a fragrant pandan chiffon cake that instantly transports her back to the familiar warmth of her Malaysian childhood, cheesy cornbread muffins that are perfect for picnics, a champagne celebration cake and her perfectly simple vanilla cupcakes. Through this stunning collection of irresistible recipes, Helen explores the joy and meaning of baking in all its guises.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

32 Bourke St, 32 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Australia