From the first six months, through a mid-year break of camping and cooking in the bush, to the harsh winter months and on to the end of its first year, this book tells the story of IGNI, a high-end degustation restaurant in the backstreets of the Australian coastal city of Geelong. Documenting a warts-and-all account of what it takes to open and run a new restaurant, chef and owner Aaron Turner reveals the daily challenges he faced - from the financial strains, the stress, fear and tantrums, to personal crises and the pressure of success and failure. His story is told through his own dated ''diary'' entries, the development of recipes, a gradually unfolding narrative through each chapter, and stunning photography that captures the brilliance of a determined young chef in a new restaurant.