A Recipe for Life: Julia Busuttil Nishimura on food, family and the future

Julia Busuttil Nishimura is a Melbourne-based cook, author and teacher. Inspired by her Maltese upbringing and time spent living abroad in Italy, Julia’s food celebrates simple ingredients together with seasonal produce. Country Road had the privilege of visiting the home she shares with husband, Nori, and their two young sons, Haruki and Yukito. Here, Julia speaks to us about her approach to food, family and her future plans.

You had a professionally successful year in 2020 with the launch of your second book, what did you learn about yourself professionally and personally throughout this year?

“Professionally, I learnt that I was much more capable at doing new things than I thought. I had to really step outside of my comfort zone during lockdown. I had to upskill in things like editing, styling and photography, and it felt really good to be able to work on these new skills! In the busyness of everyday life, I think I was taking a lot of things for granted—sitting in a cafe, seeing friends and family, travelling. 2020 taught me how unpredictable life really is and how important those small things are in life. I have never enjoyed sitting in a park more than I did last year.”

Where did your love for cooking come from? Where did you learn your skills?

“My love for cooking began as a young girl. I was always immersed in my mum’s cookbooks and side-by-side with her in the kitchen. Growing up in a Maltese family meant food was always an important part of gatherings and our daily life. I can remember collecting sea water from the beach to make ricotta, growing and shelling broad beans and making pasta with my aunty. This love of food and cooking was encouraged by my mum. She would let me cook family dinners from a young age and buy me new cookbooks to read. My love for cooking only grew while I lived in Italy. Shopping at the local markets for produce and long lunches in the Tuscan countryside made me fall in love even more with simple and generous cooking.”

What’s your go-to summer recipe?

“My go to summer recipe is a simple pasta. I roughly chop some very ripe tomatoes and place in a bowl with sea salt, olive oil, a little red wine vinegar, a finely chopped garlic clove and some marjoram or oregano. I cook the pasta and then toss it through the tomato mixture while it is hot. It takes only as long as the pasta takes to cook, and with summer tomatoes, it is a real flavour bomb!”

When it comes to cooking, what’s your most valuable piece of advice?

“Keep it simple. Some of the best food I have ever eaten is the most simple. Good quality ingredients, thoughtfully prepared and never over complicated is always the best.”

Your favourite summer activity to do with your family?

“Our favourite activity is definitely heading down to the beach. Swimming, playing in the rockpools and of course eating fish and chips for lunch.”

What values are most important for you and Nori to instill in your boys?

“Above all, kindness and empathy. We believe these values are incredibly important and will give them a strong foundation to move through their early years into adulthood.”

Where are you spending your summer holidays?

“We will be spending our summer holidays in Adelaide. We will be driving across from Melbourne and will spend some of the time close to the city so we can shop at the markets and eat at all of the wonderful restaurants. We will then base ourselves in Willunga, a beautiful little place which is near where I grew up. It is located amongst vineyards and just a stone's throw from the most wonderful beach.”

What’s been your proudest achievement to date?

“I think making that initial leap into cooking full time was such an important and proud moment. I had a very comfortable and stable job as a teacher and it felt really brave to leave that and follow this path. In the context of 2020 though, having a baby and releasing a book during a pandemic is kind of up there too!”

What goals do you have for the new year?

“Spending more quality time with friends and family. Keeping weekends free to simply relax, cook and have long lunches in the sunshine. I would also really like to travel more in Australia. There are still so many places I have yet to visit and I feel like 2021 is the most perfect time to do this.”

Can you drop any hints for our community about what you have in the works for 2021?

“Ostro, my first cookbook, is being rereleased in 2021. I cannot wait to see the refreshed version. I’m also working on a third cookbook which I am really excited about. Writing books brings me so much joy and I am incredibly excited and grateful to be working on another book.”