Yashim Cooks Istanbul: Culinary Adventures in the Ottoman Kitchen Hardcover – Illustrated, 27 Oct. 2016

As an enthusiastic fan of Jason Goodwin’s detective books featuring Yashim the eunuch, as well as an addicted food blogger, I’ve been looking forward to the publication of his cookbook Yashim Cooks Istanbul and it doesn’t disappoint. The book is arranged around the five Yashim books and each section is packed with quotes – some of the liveliest and most vivid passages - which paint the street scenes in Istanbul and Venice, and the market vendors, thieves, fishermen and nobles Goodwin depicts so well.The recipes have been chosen with care. Many, exotic and flavourful, are also satisfyingly simple – bean salad, the sultan’s Ramadan eggs, the kebab of Pilgrim Osman – anyone might cook these dishes – but the ideas are creative and different.Other recipes are more elegant, a sure talking point at any celebration; guinea fowl with pepper sauce, for example, or Palace fig pudding. The chicken and artichoke recipe disappeared in seconds with everyone asking for more.Visually the book is gorgeous, but not in an over-glossy unnatural kind of way. As well as being a respected author Jason Goodwin is also an astonishingly good food photographer, but the pages of this beautifully presented book are further interspersed with illustrations from various manuscripts and other sources and there are older images from the author’s own family archives which give the book an authenticity which is both lively and charming.Highly recommended.

We had read all the "Yashim" novels and enjoyed them hugely. Convincing and believable characters in a fascinating historical period, little about written about. The cooking and meals always made us hungry and this book is a brilliant syntheses of the novels, location,history and recipes.The artwork and photos are also a joy and make it an ornament to any book shelf.Highly recommended and I am off to re-visit the back catalogue of the writer. The duck recipe is worth the price alone. We are planning to cook one new recipe a week until we have tried them all

This is the most lovely book. It is beautifully printed on good paper with general illustrations and inspiring photographs of the food. If Yashim existed and was still alive he would be very proud . . .as it is Jason Goodwin can take several bows for him!The recipes are excellent, reliable and the taste authentic. I have actually cooked three recipes so far. Now I have acquired a few extra spices eg. Aleppo pepper more experiments to come. ps. The novels are a good read too.

Good addition to cookbook collection. Especially for a Turkophile

A beautiful book, wonderful colourful photos accompanying recipes and excepts from Jason Goodwin's series about detective Yashim in 19th century Istanbul who's love of cooking has inspired this book. This is so much more than a recipe book, you can almost smell the spices, and you feel you can't wait to try out some of the recipes. Yashim Cooks is a real treasure and I love it.

Have read all Yashim novels and this is a marvellous idea. My favourite type of recipe book are those which tell a story about the food. This would suit anyone who hasn't read the novels.

A really interesting book. The recipes are easy to follow and often reminiscent of meals cooked by my mum that she had learnt from her granny.

Use this all the time, an excellent addition to my Middle eastern cookery books