The ease of modern life with its culture of finding everything ready –Take out meals delivered to your door-, has brought our Grandmothers’ recipes to the verge of extinction for the younger generation. This has compelled us to compile the recipes of the Levantine Cuisine into book form. In this way, we hope to be able to preserve this culinary culture, as a gift to all those who read the book. We never dreamt that this undertaking would be so interesting.
Among hundreds of recipes received, we selected the best and most practical – We cooked, tasted, laughed and remembered the past, with all its happy and sometimes sad moments, and managed to complete the book. We hope that those who read, and try our recipes, will be able to capture some of this nostalgia too.
I am very proud to be part of this culture and even prouder to be the daughter of one of the ladies that made this book possible.
ReplyDeleteIt took several years to put it together but it turned out to be a true work of art, passion and love immortalizing generations’ recipes...
I feel lucky to have witnessed my grandmother and mother in the kitchen that hardly ever measured whatever ingredients they incorporated to the delicious dish they prepared… Using a specific brand for an ingredient, turning the bowl a certain way, beating the egg whites up to a point made me appreciate the importance of each step resulting to a great dish…
I strongly encourage anyone who has grown up in this culture to purchase the book and pass it from generation to generation in order to keep our history alive… As for the ones that haven’t been part of the Levantine culture it is a great book to learn a new culture, add new recipes to your daily life and enjoy them the way we enjoyed for hundreds of years… After all, kitchen is the place where we all somehow end up, feel comfortable in and prepare each meal we were taught by our ancestors… A pinch of nostalgia, plenty of taste, as much flour as it takes….
Hello Caroline,
ReplyDeleteMy cousin sent me the link to this fabulous book. My mother's family are Levantine and resided in Izmir before World War II. As I can't see the ISBN for the book, could you please advise how I acquire a copy.
Many thanks
Donna