SEBZE by Özlem Warren: Food writers, family, friends, publishers, photographers, pan makers and designers go into a book shop.
Özlem Warren with Sue from Netherton
No, this isn’t the start of an elaborate, literary joke. This was a gathering of folk invited to share in the love, warmth and admiration for Özlem Warren AKA Ozlem's Turkish Table and her stunning book, Sebze, at Daunt Books on Marylebone High St. This not just a book shop, not just a book; this was a truly iconic setting for the official launch of a remarkable book. “Sebze is a vegetarian cookbook inspired by a region with thousands of years of rich and diverse culinary heritage” and described by no less an authoritative voice than Diana Henry as “an absolute feast of Turkish home cooking”.
Özlem, introduced not only by Hardie Grant Books Eve Marleau, and the Turkish Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Ertas, spoke to the assembled crowd from the book shop balcony and I really hope she could take in the rapt expressions on the upturned faces watching and listening to her. She said that the event felt like a wedding, and we could see why; it really was a celebration of her love for her country and its culinary traditions.
As if the book were not temptation enough, Özlem offered us tasters of so many recipes from the book, we lost count of how many pistachio shortbreads and poached apricots we consumed. When we first started to read the book we quickly gave up the page markers, the forest of Post-It notes was pointless when we wanted to try everything. We have already begun. Surely no-one could go home from the event and not be inspired to cook from cover to cover.
This was a magical evening, inside a dream location, to celebrate a very special achievement by a truly talented food writer. May your book soar, Özlem.
Image credit: Sam A Harris
And if you are inspired to buy a copy, do please try and support fantastic independent bookshops like Daunt.
Image credit: Sam A Harris
