Hello? Is there anybody out there?
I hope there is. After a two-year hiatus, it feels like I’m starting a new blog. I remember how excited I was when my blog platform WordPress published the default post – titled “Hello World” – on my very first day as a blogger. Soon I realized that starting was the easiest part; what made you a blogger was the determination and dedication you had when nobody was reading.
And then, YOU made it all worthwhile. Without your continued support and encouragement – no matter how determined I was – I don’t think I could have continued to write.
Today, I am just as excited and hope that you are on the other side of the screen with open arms.
So I have to start somewhere, right? Let’s start with Blanche. The beauty above is a berry tart from my cookbook, named after who else but Blanche Devereaux of The Golden Girls.
As most of you know, I have been working on my first cookbook for the past several years. It has been the most fulfilling experience of my life. Those of you who follow me on social media already know that it’s finally out in Turkey (and in Turkish only) and might already have an idea about what’s inside, but I felt that it was time for an official sneak peek. By the way, the English version is not officially in the works yet, but I hope to share the good news very soon.
It took me 4 years and 4 months to complete the book. It is 412 pages long. There are 103 recipes and 250 photos in total. I not only styled and took all the photos, but also designed the book myself. Here are a few details:
The headings are in Golden Gate Bridge International Orange!
Throughout the book, I’ve used Ms. Esin Giz’s masterpiece as the background for chapter openers. What you see above is just a tiny section of that masterpiece – a linen tablecloth she embroidered with butterflies when she was a teenager. That is more than 70 years ago! She was kind enough to contribute many other props as well as her decades-old elderflower cordial and sour cherry liqueur recipes for the book.
Being the control freak that I am, I oversaw the whole color conversion process (from RGB to CMYK), which took three full days. And another couple of days to print 200+ pages of color proofs, which was apparently the highest number of proofs the printing house has ever printed for a book. It was the most grueling part of the printing process. All those bright blues, greens and reds turning into muddy colors with no life. I wouldn’t wish it on my enemy. But I survived – with flying colors!
If I could have printed the book myself, I would have done that, too. This time around, I left that part to the experts. The printing company is just a couple of hours away from home, so for the first round of printing, I was there every minute of the way – approving every sample octavo sheet, comparing them with color proofs and asking far too many questions along the way, which made the technicians’ lives miserable.
But we all survived that, too!
Would you like to watch? Here you go:
72 hours later, this came out:
So, what’s in the book?
The cookie chapter starts with my all-time-favorite cookies called Cenk’s House Cookies, inspired by my grandmother’s favorite Danish butter cookies. Then there’s My Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pistachio & Matcha Sablés (a.k.a “Welcome to İstanbul Dear Nick Malgieri” Cookies) inspired by my visit to Sadaharu Aoki in Paris and many more for you to enjoy.
Also, my master macaron recipe (which I deem impossible to mess up) followed by four variations, one of which is the Cocoa & Chestnut Macarons:
Even though all the brownie recipes in the book are variations of my classic brownies, I believed that they deserved a chapter of their own.
The most eye-catching one is, of course, the brownies I designed for Dolce & Gabbana. The recipe is updated with the most fashionable ingredient: Blond Chocolate!
Then comes the cake chapter. There are updated versions of the Double Chocolate Bundt Cake and Devil Wears Chocolate (which made it to the cover). And then there’s a Sour Cherry and Almond Upside Down Cake, which is my favorite recipe in the book. Attention!!! My favorite recipe in the book does NOT contain chocolate. It is THAT good.
The tart chapter starts with a Cafe Fernando classic: Raspberry Jewel Pluot Galette, which is inspired by a photo that David Lebovitz took at Chez Panisse’s 40th anniversary dinner.
There’s a bread and pastries chapter, followed by my favorite subject: Ice cream!
I am especially proud of the Concord Grape & Kefir Ice Cream recipe.
Then I delve into confections, drinks and jams. Take a look at the Vanilla & Apricot Jam.
And then there were interviews, book signings and instagram campaigns. The response was mind blowing. The first printing sold out in just three days, which is a first for a Turkish cookbook. The book is now in its 6th printing!
I’m so sorry for bombarding your social media feeds with posts in Turkish for the past year, but now you know exactly why.
I’ll be back with new recipes soon. In the meantime, here’s another video I’ve put together for the launch of my book:
It feels amazing to be back!
No need to repeat but I will. I loooove you! ^_^
Welcome back and congratulations on the book!
Cheers,
Rosa
This is wonderful news. Lovely to have a sneak preview. I’m a big fan, and can’t wait to get my hands in an English copy whenever it comes out. Congratulations!!
We’re here alright, glad to see you’re back.
YES! I’M SO HAPPY YOU’RE BACK. I followed your blog back when I was first starting out and discovering the world of food blogs and I’m so so so elated you’ll be posting again. Your photography, recipes, styling, ALL OF IT is always an inspiration to me. I’ve always kept you in my RSS reader in hopes that one day, you’ll be posting again. Welcome back, Cenk. Congratulations on your book, it looks absolutely stunning and beautiful. Please have it translated into English, because if not, I’ll probably have to buy it in Turkish anyway and just marvel at the photos alone.
So happy to see you back! I can’t wait for the English version! Beautiful work.
I for one am so excited to see you post something here! YES, I am here and hello back.
How exciting for you, that would be such a dream having your own cookbook published. You are masterful and I am so grateful that you’re back. Now, please get the cookbook ready for us over here in California and the rest of the USA.
Oh, and I visited Turkey last year and travelled 2,800 miles around your beautiful country and loved every second of it, the food and the warm people. Cheers!
Welcome back! Already bought your book, and am looking forward to your new posts.
Wonderful, truely!
It’s good to see you back here. I’ve missed your post but … congratulations on your book. I was in Istanbul for the new year and hoped to find a signing but didn’t manage to. I can’t wait to get a copy!
Welcome back – good to see. I kept your feed in my feedly RSS reader (I don’t tweet or like, so RSS works really well for me), and lo and behold, you showed up again yesterday.. Great to see, and congrats on your book. Looks beautiful. Best of luck with it – in boca lupo, as they say…
tony
What a comeback Cenk! Love love love the photos. I can not wait for the english version. Keep us posted.
Banu, Rosa, Valentina, Anna, Luisa, Suzan, Maja, Phyllis, Tony, Marissa – Many thanks for stopping by! So good to hear from you all.
Lisa – Thanks a lot! Hope to share the good news soon
Kevin – Thank you Kevin! 2800 miles, wow! I don’t think I’ve travelled that much in my beautiful country. Happy to hear you had a great time.
yep still here – totally relate to starting is easy, keeping going when nobody is reading is not so easy (especially when you wonder if it was something you wrote – just kidding :)) – good that you are back!
It’s so good to see you back! And a big congrats on the cookbook. It’s looks stunning and hope that one day it can be translated into English.
Congratulations on the launch of your cookbook! yay!!
I am so happy to see you back here. Missed your recipes. Please give us good news about the launch of your cookbook in English so we can get out copies too.
Congratuations!!
I am in India and I shared your blog link with my friends on Facebook again last week, feeling bad that this blog wasn’t being updated. I am so glad to see you are back and that too with such a lovely news!
Keep making fabulous and delicious food and sharing your love for cooking with all through your recipes.
Welcome back, I have missed your blog and I can’t wait for the English version of your book.
Welcome Back! Missed your always interesting site.
I’m so happy that you’re back Cenk! Where in Istanbul can I find your book? My Turkish isn’t perfect, but I will struggle to figure things out in Turkish anyway because I know that your recipes are fantastic.
Congrats on the completion of your project! Keep the blog going please!
What a beautiful thing to wake up to.
Cheers from New York.
congratulations and welcome back! looking forward to your new recipes. i’ll be in istanbul soon and maybe i’ll be lucky enough to find your book (one more reason to start learning turkish!)
Kalbim temiz mis, daha dun sizi ve blogunuzu hatirladim, ve acaba Cenk bey nerelerde diye dusundum. Tebrikler. Harika gorunuyor.
The photos just took my breath away. Congratulations, Cenk!
Well done and Welcome back !
Hi, Cenk! I have been keeping you on my subscriptions list, hoping that someday you would post again
It was worth the wait! Thanks for the lovely pictures and congratulations on your book! I look forward to reading new posts from you!
It’s been a really loooong time, hasn’t it?! I blinked twice when I saw your mail in the inbox!! Well.. congratulations on your book..now only if it were in English!! I remember those D&G brownies so clearly.. so please do start blogging again!!
Bravo! And welcome back!! Can’t wait for the English version. I have shared your info on my Facebook page to spread the word.
Love the look inside the pages. Magnificent work! Cannot wait for English version.
WELCOME BACK!! Your book is beautiful! Please put me down for an English language copy as my Turkish is not sufficient to do recipes.
Congratulations on your book! Now you just need to hurry up with the English version, because those photos look so mouthwatering!!!
It seems clear we are all SO happy you’re back!!!
I hope you can publish in English, I’d be the first Argentina fan buying it!!!
Welcome back, we love you =)
Welcome back
We have checked here when you were away, it’s great to hear from you finally. Your recepies are the best. So, don’t deprive us from them
Welcome back!! The last time I checked your blog, you were up to your elbows in pomegranates, your kitchen akin to a crime scene. Glad that worked out ok. Anxiously awaiting your English book from Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Yeah! So glad you are back! The world missed you!
So glad you are back as you were missed and I cannot wait till we get the book in English.
Welcome back! I’ve missed your posts terribly.. and congratulations on your gorgeous cookbook. Now please get yourself a publisher in the United States PRONTO, because we deserve to cook from that book, too!
Welcome back! You have been missed that is for sure. Congratulations on finally finishing the cookbook and we all look forward to the English version.
So excited to see that you are back. Your photographs and recipes inspire. Can’t wait to see your cookbook, in English – congratulations!
SO glad you are back! I have missed your presence.
Hello Dear I was wondering where you had gone!!!! Congratulations!
I was waiting for your book to come out and literally pounced on it when it finally arrived at Remzi Suadiye. Congrats! From the heart and sophisticated all rolled up in a sleek format. Sure the recipes are great, we already knew that didn’t we – but the food styling and the photography? Wow! I think you could moonlight as a food stylist and photographer as well as writer and cook. Thanks for raising the bar and bringing baking to a new high!
Welcome back, I have missed your blog and I can’t wait for the English version of your book.
Welcome back! And huge congrats on your beautiful book. I was just having lunch with Carole Bidnick last week and she was telling me what a stunner it is! So looking forward to seeing it.
All best,
E
Welcome back Cenk… Congrats on your book, it looks amazing.. I’m traveling another time( my 4th) to Istanbul, this time with family. we really enjoy Istanbul mesmerizing sceneries. I want to try new food places, not touristic. any suggestions?
thanks.
Polianthus, Melissa, Hakan, Elaine, Didi, Annie, Chani, Martha Hopkins, procrastinate, Jenny, sandy lister, Richard, Joycelin, Poppy Quintal, ruth, Nina, erin – Thank you guys! Your support & encouragement is very much appreciated.
Beena – Thanks for putting in a good word for me
I really appreciate it. I’m doing everything I can to make the English version possible.
Judy – Thank you! You can find it in pretty much every bookstore in town. Try D&R or Remzi. Or go to my favorite bookstore in town – Minoa. They carry lots of English cookbooks, too.
elena – Thanks! Hope you like it. Please see above for a link to my favorite bookstore in Istanbul.
Ozlem – Çok teşekkür ederim
megan – I’m so glad to hear you’ve kept me in the list. Thank you!
Sarvani – Yes, it has! Hopefully, it will be – soon.
Sophie Kamveris – Thanks for spreading the word!
Peter Gordon – Thanks! And done!
Viktorija – Thanks a lot. I’m working on it as we speak
SilBsAs – Thank you! I love you, too!
Annie Fenn – I’m always up to my elbows in pomegranates
Thank you!
Becca – Thank you. I’ll do everything I can.
Lale Gedik – Wow! Thanks a lot for your kind words
Fragolina – Thank you! I’ll send you my list of recommendations via e-mail. Hope you have a great time in Istanbul.
You are again , I’m happy ! Welcome back ! Book – congratulations ! Natalia from Poland
Welcome back! Congrats on the book. I did not realize just how much i missed your blog until the email notification came through today. I can’t wait to get my hands on an English copy of Cafe Fernando.
I would have waited as many years as it took you to make a comeback. So glad to see you so happy, you deserved it. Warmest hug.
First congratulation, it look amazing from what you share. now my question i show can i buy it in the USA?
Great to see you
I for one think you are completely and totally MEAN. Yes, mean to the core!! …you know, for posting all these yummy-sounding recipes and photos and them telling me (several times) that it’s not in English and then stabbing the knife even deeper by saying that translation is not even in the works yet????? AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH
ya killin’ me homes….just killin me!
Delighted to see you back, Cenk!
Looking forward to seeing what is in store for you – and us! – in the coming times!
Great to hear from you again! the book looks beautiful, congratulations and best wishes
Welcome back Fernando. Please advise us on the english version of your book. I love you blog. Please keep on.
AMAZING!!!!!!
please please please a version in english… it will take me too long to google translate all your recipes!!!
a fan who dreams of cookbooks…
Welcome back. I wondered what had happened to you. I always found your recipes very interesting and different. Congratulations on what looks like a beautiful book
Welcome back, Cenk. I’ll be the first one to buy!
Natalia, Kelly James, Modernity, Martha, lien, Angelica del Valle, leila, Espahan, Shelby – Thank you.
Maria – You’re very kind. Thanks a lot!
orin – There are three independent bookstores selling it on Amazon, but the price is just ridiculous. D&R in Turkey told me that they ship to the U.S., but their website is in Turkish.
Kendra – Sorry for being mean
I’m doing everything in my power to make the English version possible. Will update when I know more.
You made me surprise twice throughout that long period I have been reading your blog often swallowing my saliva when I was admiring your beautiful photos. The first surprise was to discover that you are a man. Somehow I thought about you to be a woman. Now, here is the second, also very pleasant surprise, your appearance and your baby book :). I am happy for you and happy for your book! Congratulation to you. Enjoy your well earned success.
Love from one of your readers
I can’t wait for the English print to offer it to my friends as a gift
looking forward for it!
Betül
Wow! Congratulations on an AMAZING, beautiful feat. I can’t wait for the English version. Your photography is stunning. I’m in love!
Yippee! Happy to see “Café Fernando” in my inbox – and happier to hear the news of your book. Looks beautiful and looking forward to an English edition ASAP! Congratulations and well done – and welcome back!
Hello!!!! Thrilled to have Cafe Fernando back!!!!
Oh my oh my the book!!!!!
A very welcome return, and congratulations. You deserve success after long hard work. PLEASE go ahead soon with an English translation of the book, I must have a copy or I will simply die!
Welcome back Fernando!
amazing! that video is intense: ) welcome back, friend! xo
Welcome back, indeed. I cried when I watched the videos – the book is SO beautiful…
Nick – Ok, now you’re going to make me cry! Thank you, Nick.
Welcome back.Can’t wait to buy your book in English!
Welcome back! I’ve been waiting and watching for two years so can’t wait to get your gorgeous recipes in my inbox again!
I’m salivating so much I’m in danger of shorting out my keyboard! Okay, that sounds gross, but I am so excited about your cookbook. My Turkish sucks (actually it’s non-existent) so I say bring on the English version! Very much looking forward to getting my hands on a copy!
You, my friend, are a STAR!
Welcome back!! can’t wait for your cookbook in english….i’m so glad i decided to check on your blog to see it up and running again
Oh- such Marvelous news Cenk!!
I’m beyond thrilled to hear your book is in it’s 6th (SIXTH!!) printing after being out for three days. That is absolutely amazing but not surprising. You are such a masterful creator.
Thank you for coming back, even if it’s sporadic.
I was looking for an original recipe on this sunday morning and oh my god…You’re back :))) I love you blog, your recipes so look &taste amazing, your photos really make want to travel… really missed you& Really looking forward an English version of your cookbook… Your my best food blog! Nadia
Great to see you back, can’t wait for the English version!
super…..the photos are fab hope the english edition is out soon [ even if it is in american and the ‘madning’ cup measures]….but hoping that the recipes includes grams too
m – The recipes will definitely include grams!
Please tell me your book will be published in English. I must have it!
Karen – I hope to give you the good news soon.
Cenk, you are back in action. I am so happy to see the new posts. Congratulations on the book, i couldn’t happier for you. Is it available asia? When will the english version be out? I look forward to new recipes from you….welcome backkkkkkkk…
esha shrestha – Thank you! It isn’t available in Asia. I’m working towards publishing it in English, but no exact plans as of yet. I’ll keep you guys posted about it.
Welcome back, Cenk!
The book is just … WOW! Looking forward to the English version, too (I know I am like the nth person telling this), and am even close to ordering the Turkish version even if I don’t understand a thing, just because it’s so beautiful.
P.S.
Drooling all over the new recipes. Thank you for making time to share them.
Cenk, The Man!
I am so happy to see you back. I was hoping to see new post , since i did not check for a while . Seriously I am giddy to read what I missed .
Bu kadar guzel site , emek verildigi her kosesinden , pixelinden anlasilan bir site , zor bulunur.
Eline saglik , emegine saygi, kalemine kuvvet .
https://www.facebook.com/orbay/videos/10155980010655331/?l=1832039154400702211
Neler yapiyorum bir bilseniz. 8 senedir NY’dayim. Bir cok restaurantta mudurluk yaptim. Her isin her kosesinden tuttum. Simdi ise bir delilik yapiyorum. Ortagimla Williamsburg’de Cuma gunu cok ufak bir yer kiraladik. (attached video)
Oturacak yer yok cunku.. :)))
Ben su ana kadar bir cok kitap alip bir cok tarif denesem de boyle birseye girecegim aklimin ucuna gelmezdi. Mediterranean grab and go agirlikli bir yer olacak herhalde. Oturmadan alip gidecekler. Insallah tabii.
Kitabinizi karistiriyorum. Blogdan cikmiyorum. Neler yapabilirim hemen hazirlamali oradan oraya atliyorum, arastiriyorum.
Cok korkuyorum ama cok bir umutluyum.
Belki guzel bir pogaca cikartirim, acik sandwichler yaparim, mis gibi kahve satarim. Simdi Fistikella’yi yaptim. Mis mis..
Bekleriz. Cok seviniriz.
Didi
I haven’t followed your blog in many years, but tonight I thought of you and wondered about the cookbook you were working on. I couldn’t remember your site but all I had to do was Google (Turkish blogger + golden girls) and I found you again! I even went onto David Leibovitz site to get a clue to your blog because I remember you mentioned him in on of your posts, anyway I was saved by those Golden Girls. I’m so excited to find your blog, it’s like finding your lost friend, an imaginary friend, but still a friend.
Andrea from Berkeley, CA