If you're an adventurous cook, chances are you’ve made an Ottolenghi recipe! Yotam Ottolenghi is a chef, author of nine bestselling cookbooks, including Jerusalem, Plenty and Comfort, co-owner of 12 restaurants and delis, mostly in London, and a columnist for The New York Times and The Guardian
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I had a delightful, thoughtful conversation with him for the latest episode of my podcast, Your Last Meal, and he was so articulate and centered, I hardly had to do any editing (behind the scenes fact: I usually do a LOT of editing!).
You may know Ottolenghi for his recipes – tahini-laden, pomegranate molasses-drizzled, vegetable-forward dishes with complex, layered, global flavors. But how much do you know about Ottolenghi the person?
Listen to the new episode to learn (among other things):
- What Yotam did for work before finding his way to a food career (he has multiple graduate-level degrees in non-culinary subjects!).
- His most mortifying food-related memory.
- Why he argues that cooking is not an art form and food is not art.
- The nickname has father gave him as a food-obsessed kid!
We also talk about the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen, where a group of diverse, talented cooks create and test recipes for cookbooks, the website and publications. I love how transparent Yotam is about the test kitchen, careful not to take credit for every recipe, despite having his name on the door.
Lastly, I’d like to share the recipe for Ottolenghi’s Clementine Almond Syrup Cake, the dessert he chose for his last meal.
It comes from his cookbook, Jerusalem, co-written with Sami Tamimi, the Palestinian chef Yotam started his empire with. Yotam grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem and Sami grew up in a Muslim quarter of the city; they met decades ago, working at a bakery in London, and I love that they came together through a love of food.
Right now is the perfect time to make this cake, since citrus is in season!
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Have a food- or drink-related question? (Need a restaurant rec? Have a mystery that needs solving?) Send me a note: rachel.belle@cascadepbs.org
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Rachel Belle
