New Year, a Turkish cookbook, etc.
I have come across with a new Turkish cookbook the other day at Readings. This is by the Lebanese chef Greg Malouf and his ex-wife Lucy. It is called Turquoise, full of nice photos from their trip in Turkey. I didn't buy the book following my pact not to buy any more cookbooks! But I did have a flick through. It's full of good recipes, although I was quite surprised by a pumpkin soup recipe with a touch of cumin. I must say in all of my life (yes in Istanbul, but have been to various parts of Turkey and tasted food from several regions), I have never come across with pumpkin soup. I did introduce it to my family on one of my recent visits, and it wasn't well-received. It really is not a Turkish taste, and I am curious to know if a small village happened to have a version, which is how the soup ended up in the book. Apart from this unusual (or I should say out of place) entry, Turquoise appeared to be a well-presented addition to Turkish cookbooks. My favourite in English is still a book with no photos by Ayla Algar from which I will try the potato salad sometime soon. And one day, I might perhaps take up my dream of writing up a Turkish cookbook.
9 comments:
Just in case you're not aware of it, Lucy Malouf has a blog called Stuff and Nonsense, although it's no longer updated. The Maloufs' books are indeed beautiful.
Thanks Cindy, didn't know. Will check it out sometime!
nice to learn about a new turkish cookbook. i picked up a used copy of "turkish cooking" by carol robertson the last time i was in nyc and have gone through all the good recipes by now.
any other suggestions?
you should send one of your recipes to the abc. they are looking for to publish in a new festive feast book. It would be good to see some turkish in there considering it's the #1 cuisine in the world...
www.abc.net.au/backyard/homecooked
Thanks Steffi!
Thanks Steffi!
I back your enthusiasm for Ayla Algar's book. It's not just a cookery book, it's a social history, too, full of the most fascinating detail about food and culture in Ottoman life. I go back to it again and again when my Ottoman detective needs to ponder the case in his kitchen!
Yes, I agree Jason. Ayla, by the way, is a 'she' (and teaches at U California):)
this looks soo delicious! Now i have to decide between this and an egg tahini salad recipe i found for my lunch today...so hard to chooose!!!
http://www.draxe.com/video/egg-tahini-salad-transform-your-kitchen-ep-23/
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