Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfume: Cuisine of the Eastern Mediterranean

A rare and beautiful gem of a cookbook, Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfume celebrates the succulent cuisine of the Eastern Mediterranean, a land rich in multi-cultural Ottoman tradition. Popular British chef Silvena Rowe gives us a beautifully designed, lavishly photographed compendium of inspiring and enticing recipes—a treat for the eyes, mind, and heart as well as the palate.
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Silvena Rowe, executive chef of London's exquisite restaurant Quince at the May Fair Hotel, invites you on a journey through Eastern Mediterranean history and its culinary secrets. Here, the olive oil, rosemary, and basil of the West meet the exotic spices of the East for a contemporary cuisine of surprising lightness and variety.

From tempting starters such as creamy feta and caramelized leek filo pastries to sumptuous entrées such as spiced pilaf with duck confit, raisins, and pine nuts to heavenly desserts like maple-glazed roasted figs with pistachio praline, this is food for celebrating, for healthy living, and, above all, for sharing.

Rowe offers a modern twist on the classic recipes of a rich tradition, following in the footsteps of the great Ottoman chefs who combined the sweet and the sour, the fresh and the dried, the flavors of honey and cinnamon, saffron and sumac, scented rose and orange flower water. Filled with mouthwatering recipes that can be made using surprisingly simple and easy-to-find ingredients, and illustrated with stunning photographs, Purple Citrus & Sweet Perfume brings to life the natural beauty and irresistible flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean.

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“For Rowe, every dish tells a story. Some pay tribute to her Turkish father, or wend their way to a spice market in Aleppo, a street-food vendor in Damascus, or a celebration in Istanbul. Equal parts rustic and elegant, Rowe’s is a borderless cuisine of za’atar and lemon zest, chile and cumin, marked by vibrant flavors, bright colors, and heady aromas.” - Bon Appétit

“Equal parts rustic and elegant, Rowe’s is a borderless cuisine of za’atar and lemon zest, chile and cumin, marked by vibrant flavors, bright colors, and heady aromas.” - Bon Appétit