Nagi scoops coveted ABIA Award, calling out a win for 'integrity'
The victory comes on the heels of a public dispute with fellow cookbook author Brooke Bellamy, who was accused of plagiarising two of Maehashi's recipes.
Nagi Maehashi, the creator of the wildly popular food blog RecipeTin Eats, has secured the coveted Illustrated Book of the Year award for her cookbook Tonight, at the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs).
The victory comes on the heels of a public dispute with fellow cookbook author Brooke Bellamy, who was accused of plagiarising two of Maehashi's recipes.
The win marks Maehashi’s second consecutive triumph in this category, further solidifying her place in the Australian culinary publishing scene.
A controversial win: Maehashi vs. Bellamy
The battle between Maehashi and Bellamy has been the talk of the food and publishing worlds. '
Both authors were shortlisted for the prestigious Illustrated Book of the Year award, with Maehashi’s Tonight and Bellamy’s Bake with Brooki competing for the title.
Just one week before the awards, Maehashi publicly accused Bellamy of plagiarism, claiming that two recipes in Bake with Brooki closely mirrored those published on her website RecipeTin Eats.
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Bellamy firmly denied the allegations, but the controversy has nonetheless cast a shadow over the awards.
Maehashi, who had kept a low profile during the event, told 9News that she was determined to keep things positive, despite the ongoing drama.
“I just want to have some fun tonight,” she said, adding that she was excited to celebrate alongside other talented authors and publishers.
Maehashi also marked the win in a heartfelt Instagram post, where she thanked the awards committee, her fans, and her publisher Pan Macmillan.
"Thank you @abia_awards for the honour,” she wrote. “To my team, thank you for your support for all those months I disappeared into the book making black-hole (and all that Moroccan lamb and seafood pie you taste tested🤣).
@macmillanaus – this one’s for you. For the whole team. I am proud to call you my publisher. Success and integrity. WE DID IT!! – N x"
The plagiarism allegations
Maehashi's public accusation of plagiarism has shaken the Australian cookbook community.
She explained that after six months of attempting to reach an agreement with Bellamy’s publisher, Penguin, she was forced to take the matter to the public.
Penguin and Bellamy, who also owns three cafes in Brisbane, have denied the allegations. However, the dispute remains unresolved, and Maehashi’s allegations have sparked a wider conversation about plagiarism in the publishing world.
The ABIAs are known for celebrating books that resonate with both readers and booksellers, with the winners being selected by a mix of industry professionals, including publishers, booksellers, and journalists.
Maehashi’s Tonight was the bestselling adult non-fiction book in Australia last year, selling 299,000 copies, while her first book, RecipeTin Eats: Dinner, sold 176,000 copies and came second in sales.
The impressive numbers have not only cemented Maehashi’s reputation as a dominant figure in the cookbook space but also showcased the significant demand for Australian-authored culinary titles.
