Istanbul & Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey
As most of my friends know, I love eating but I’m not so big on cooking. I have a lot of tried and true recipes that don’t require much thought to put together, and I’m usually reluctant to dip into cook books. Istanbul & Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey is the exception. Reading it, using it and travelling through it is pure joy. Robyn Eckhardt knows Turkey and its cuisine inside out and back to front, and has put that knowledge to good use.
The book is divided into food types according to their geographical origins. Fish is to the Black Sea what hot colourful spices are to the South East and so on. Each chapter is accompanied by achingly beautiful photographs by David Hagerman. He’s not above lying in the middle of the road to get the perfect shot. Just looking at the photos of the dishes is satisfying enough but if you want to make them yourself, Robyn has left nothing to chance. From what to use and how to substitute certain ingredients, through to easy to follow step-by-step instructions, you’ll give the most exacting Turkish home cook a run for their money.
I love that Istanbul & Beyond goes way beyond kebab but includes the humble toasted sandwich, much beloved by Istanbul residents. Many times I’ve indulged in one on days when I’ve been too busy to stop for lunch, or in the early hours of the morning on my way home from a night out. If you love Turkey and want to recreate the enticing tastes and aromas of Turkish food at home, or just look at the gorgeous photographs and daydream, this is the book for you.
Happy dining and Türkiye’ye hoş geldiniz!
Title: Istanbul & Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Date: October 10, 2017
ISBN: 9780544444317
