Old Istanbul or Constantinople was built on seven hills. Each hill has a historic importance rooted back to the Roman and Ottoman empires – where the city’s diverse cuisine and culture come from.
“The Seven Hills of Istanbul” supper club represents what Istanbul cuisine is today and what it was in the past. Therefore the menu created by Irem will include inspirations and influences of the peoples’ of Istanbul – encompassing dishes from different families, neighbours, and memories from across centuries. This is distinct from the other regions of Turkey.
Irem will bring the traditional and modern cooking together at the dinner table. It is a journey from local dishes of streets of Istanbul to the palace kitchen coated up human stories. The use of seasonal food is central to real Istanbul cuisine, which is reflective of the 7 hills of the city. So expect pure Istanbul on your plates!
Turkish cuisine often conjures up very limited images such as kebab, baklava and Turkish delight. On the contrary, the 7 hills of Istanbul supper club features olive oil based green dishes, seafood, several delicate meze plates and a pudding.
Irem Asku is a former news reporter switched from the newsroom to the kitchen. Irem has trained at Ottolenghi, along with her successful food projects and cooking collaborations before joining the team at E5 Bakehouse. Irem also now runs her own initiative, Topik, which celebrates the food of minority cultures in Turkey.
https://topik.london/
SOOP uses it’s supper clubs to showcase refugee, former refugee, and migrant chefs every month. Irem will share with you some of the rich stories behind the untold culinary heritage of Istanbul. SOOP will also share with you it’s work with refugee chefs and the pilot culinary programme starting in May 2017. At SOOP we believe that the use of storytelling through food can connect us all, and supper clubs play a big role in communicating this.
All proceeds from the SOOP fundraiser supper clubs will go towards funding it’s upcoming pilot culinary training programme for refugee chefs in London.
This month’s supper club is held at the fabulous E5 Bakehouse, London Fields. This is both BOYB and Turkish wines available to purchase on the night. Irem will be showcasing a selection of unique Turkish wines from local producers using regional grapes !
We are really looking forward to welcoming you all!
Stories On Our Plate (SOOP) & Irem Aksu
7 HILLS OF ISTANBUL MENU
25th/26th May
at E5 Bakehouse
Fava, Dill & Radishes …. fresh and dried broad bean pâté, lightly pickled radishes
Dövme Hiyar on Rye … cucumber, almond & lor cheese spread
Midye Salma … Cornish mussels with cinnamon and black currant rice
Lettuce with Istanbul Tarator … lettuce leaves, garlic and walnut sauce
Citrusy Kefal Pilaki … grey mullet cooked in olive oil with leeks, potatoes, lemon zest, herbs
Irmik Helvasi, Irem’s Mastic Ice Cream & British Strawberries … semolina halva with milk sherbet, Mastic gum flavoured ice cream
Many thanks to Fin & Flounder for donating fresh and sustainable seafood to our collaboration for a good cause.
food without borders 