The Edinburgh Fringe has plenty to delight foodies but so does the Edinburgh Book Festival, which runs from tomorrow, 11 – 27 August. Two events I will definitely be taking in are their Afternoon Tea event in the Spiegeltent. Not only do you get to hear tales from two great cookery writers, but you can enjoy a British afternoon tea before hearing cooking tips and tricks, all thrown in for the cost of the £25 ticket.
Eating Words
First up is Afternoon Tea with Kate Young on Monday, 20 August from 15.00-16.15.
Young is an Australian-born, London-based food writer and cook. After moving to the UK in 2009, she started her blog, thelittlelibrarycafe.com, which now has readers all over the world and is regularly featured in the Guardian.
Merging her love of cooking and literature, Young launched a recipe blog that has since inspired her first book, The Little Library Cookbook. Whenever Young spots a mention of food in a novel she’s off to recreate the dish, whether it’s treacle tart from Harry Potter or The Godfather’s spaghetti and meatballs.
A giftable cookery book with over 100 delicious recipes taken from the author’s favourite works of fiction, be enthralled with Paddington Bear’s marmalade, a Neopolitan pizza with Elena Ferrante or afternoon tea at Manderley. From Before Noon breakfasts and Around Noon lunches to Family Dinners and Midnight Feasts, The Little Library Cookbook captures the magic and wonder of the meals enjoyed by some of our best-loved fictional characters.
Turkish Delight
Another Afternoon Tea I will be joining in with is Özlem Warren, (Friday, 24 August – 14.30 – 15.45)who will be interviewed by Scottish-based food and travel writer, cook and workshop host, Ghillie Başan, aka the Original Spice Girl.
Born and raised in Turkey, Özlem is passionate about sharing the historical and cultural riches of her homeland through its cuisine. Her journey into the culinary world started on a different continent and a long way from her homeland.
In 2005, she joined Central Market Cooking School in Texas teaching Turkish cookery classes as a guest chef in Austin, Houston and San Antonio. Then her family moved to England prompting her to launch her Turkish recipe blog Özlem’s Turkish Table so she could connect with Turkish food lovers around the world.
Ten years on and her love for Turkish cuisine has opened up new and exciting opportunities for her teaching at JA University in Amman, Jordon; London’s Divertimenti Cookery School, Blid and Hatton Gatherings and the Istanbul Culinary Institute in Istanbul.
In her book, Özlem’s Turkish Table, she pays tribute to the diverse and vibrant cuisine of her homeland. In this collection of her favourite Turkish dishes, she celebrates her own southern Turkish roots with regional specialities from her home town of Antakya and recipes from her own family.
Let Özlem take you on a gastronomic journey – to explore, learn and taste for yourself from this true melting port of cuisines and along the way, enjoy the warmth and generous spirit of Turkish culture. Özlem shares a culinary treasure trove of recipes in the hope that you will, in turn, invite your friends and family to your own table and enjoy a delightful Turkish meal together.
To book tickets at Edinburgh International Book Festival – https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/
Twitter – @edbookfest
Facebook – @edbookfest
Dear Kerry, thank you so much for this lovely post of our Afternoon Tea with Ozlem Warren event with dear Ghillie at the Edinburgh Book Festival on Aug 24th; I really can’t wait and it will be a pleasure to meet you, many thanks again, Ozlem