De Dikke Van Dam is an encyclopaedic collection (of pieces by Dutch culinary journalist Johannes van Dam) and hence classically designed, worthy of a standard work. But that gave me an opportunity to take a different line with the cover. The title was initially only a working title, but was a reference to the Dutch standard dictionary: the Van Dale Dictionary of the Dutch Language, known popularly as ‘de dikke Van Dale’ (The Fat Van Dale). It’s an honorary title. The book was such a success that a paperback edition was decided in 2006. The rave reviews were used for the cover.