Black Sea
Dispatches and Recipes – Through Darkness and Light
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Quadrille Publishing Ltd
Published:16th Nov '23
Should be back in stock very soon
This engaging exploration of the Black Sea region combines culinary traditions with personal stories, offering a unique perspective on its rich culture and history.
In Black Sea, Caroline Eden embarks on a captivating journey through the food and communities along the Black Sea coastline. This revised and updated edition of the award-winning classic provides readers with an immersive experience that transcends mere travel writing. Eden's exploration takes her from Odesa, Ukraine’s vibrant port city, through the bustling streets of Istanbul, and onto the resilient shores of Trabzon, revealing the rich tapestry of culinary cultures that define this region. With her keen sense of storytelling, she introduces us to the diverse flavors and traditions that have evolved over centuries.
The narrative is enriched by Eden's encounters with remarkable individuals, from the last fisherwoman of Bulgaria to the legacies of White Russian émigrés in Istanbul. Each story adds depth to her exploration of the Black Sea, showcasing how food serves as a powerful connector among communities. As she reflects on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Eden provides poignant insights into the resilience of Odesa's people and the impact of war on the region’s culinary heritage.
Packed with stunning photography and delectable recipes, Black Sea is more than just a cookbook; it is a tribute to the spirit of a region that has faced adversity yet continues to thrive. Eden's prose elevates the narrative, making it a must-read for anyone interested in travel, food, and the intricate stories that bind us all together.
A genuinely erudite dive into the cultures that meet at the Black Sea. Beautiful enough for the coffee table but fascinating enough for the nightstand and useful in the kitchen, too. * Tim Hayward, Financial Times *
It’s packed with human stories as well as history, giving the recipes a significance and resonance. * Diana Henry, Sunday Telegraph *
It’s her writing – elegant, fluid and as mesmerising as the Black Sea itself – that captures and holds your attention and imagination throughout this journey. * Julia Platt Leonard, The Independent *
Eden’s blazing talent and unabashedly greedy curiosity will have you strapped in beside her... If Sybille Bedford or Patrick Leigh Fermor had included a few recipes in their accounts of their journeys, you’d know exactly where to shelve this gem. * Christine Muhlke, The New York Times *
The food in Black Sea is wonderful, but it’s Eden’s prose that really elevates this book to the extraordinary. She captures people, history, and the ineffable soul of cities with astonishing, almost novelistic precision — more than once, even in the headnotes, I felt myself getting lost in the world of the story. I can’t remember any cookbook that’s drawn me in quite like this. * Helen Rosner, Art of Eating judge *
ISBN: 9781837831340
Dimensions: 253mm x 176mm x 36mm
Weight: 1106g
312 pages