Middle Feast
Thanks to the runaway success of a relatively small number of cookbooks devoted to it, Middle East cooking is on a roll around the world right now. But until now it has lacked a basic forum bringing together the wider subject — news and reviews about the restaurants and chefs, interviews with the major players, informed commentary about the latest trends and recipes drawn from across the smorgasbord of cuisines that fit around the table. This newsletter attempts to redress that imbalance, as well as hopefully delivering some unexpected gems of insights, and deflating (or inflating) some reputations and kitchen myths along the way. There will also be supplemental glossary guides. In the main, like all good Middle Eastern portions, it’s intended to be overgenerous, which isn’t necessarily a fault. Initially at least, the newsletter will be served to subscribers a couple of times a week.
About me
I am a Wellington-based writer, journalist and amateur chef whose work has appeared frequently in publications in New Zealand and abroad, including The Guardian, The New York Times and The Christian Science Monitor. An anthology of my work on food, culture, travel and media, Greatest Hits: A Quarter Century of Journalistic Encounters, Cultural Fulminations and Notes on Lost Cities, was published in 2014. The English writer Julie Burchill hailed the collection as “a brilliant album.” The New Zealand Herald described it as “fearless.” I recently collaborated with the Israeli restaurateur Yael Shochat on Ima Cuisine: An Israeli Mother’s Kitchen (Penguin, 2016). I am, as well, the author of four other books. Another new title — on Leonard Cohen — is slated for publication in late 2018.
Why subscribe?
Subscribing gets you full access to the newsletter and website — and also helps put food, spices and herbs on my table. Get the newsletter direct to your inbox, or log in to the site to read online. Never miss an update. You can pay monthly or annually.
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FAQ
How can I read a subscriber update?
You can read a subscriber-only update in email, or on the website. If you click through from your email you will be automatically logged in. If you come to the website separately, you can log in through the Membership page.
What do I get when I subscribe?
The enjoyment of unlocking content that you love, supporting a writer you trust and the pleasure of learning about the one of the few things that everyone in the Middle East (and, increasingly, everywhere else) agrees on.
Can I forward the emails?
When it comes to the free posts, spread them as far and as wide as you like, on whatever platform you currently prefer. Occasionally forwarding subscribers-only emails is just fine too.
