Mediterranean Grains and Greens

". This is Paula Wolfert’s Mediterranean Grains and Greens . Paula has been a huge influence on us. There are so many books of hers that I could have chosen. I have picked this one because she covers all the countries that we love – Turkey, Lebanon and a bit of Spain. It focuses on greens and grains, which we do a lot of in our restaurant. She has recipes such as a wonderful rice dish from Valencia or a delicious pilaf from Turkey. “A lot of our cooking and our recipes are home-cooked dishes. We don’t really consider ourselves to be a fine dining restaurant” She is not dissimilar from Claudia Roden in the way that she has a very intimate knowledge of the area and its local people. She goes right into their homes. A lot of our cooking and our recipes are home-cooked dishes. We don’t really consider ourselves to be a fine dining restaurant. Not long ago we went to Gazientep in southern Turkey, to the house of one of our chef’s parents. When we arrived, the whole table was covered with 20 different dishes. There were stuffed flat breads with olives and lamb, stuffed vegetables, the stuffed vine leaves or dolma . Proper, home-cooked Turkish food. It was a real treat, and their hospitality was very special indeed."