"Greet a Turk and you will eat. Whether you are in the busy streets of
Istanbul, in a small village in Anatolia, on the slopes above Bursa, or
in a resort in the Mediterranean, the enticing aroma of grilling,
baking, and spices fills the air - warm bread rings covered in sesame
seeds; deep-fried mussels with a garlicky sauce; roasted chestnuts,
almonds and pistachio nuts; savory pastries filled with melting cheese;
lamb roasting on a spit; eggplants smoking over charcoal; and the scent
of fresh peaches. You can try Ottoman puddings in Istanbul; juicy
apricots stuffed with rice in Cappadocia; anchovy pilaf along the Black
Sea coast; fiery kebabs served on a sword in Adana; and the
hallucinogenic honey of Kars in eastern Anatolia. The Turks are
passionate about their cuisine. It gives them pleasure to share it with
you and it is their generous hospitality that draws me to the country
again and again." This glorious volume by award-winning author and cook
Ghillie Basan looks in detail at the culinary history and geography, the
customs and festivities, as well as the local ingredients, and presents
a tantalizing selection of classic regional recipes.