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My First Cookbook

I am writing my first cookbook. And I can’t believe I just said that.

Five months ago, I received an e-mail from a Turkish publishing house, asking if I’d be interested in writing a cookbook. The moment I read that e-mail, I stood up and started walking around the house, looking for stupid chores to keep my mind occupied. I had been waiting for that e-mail for a long time, but never thought I’d react that way. My stomach tangled up and my IQ must have dropped 50 points because I suddenly found myself in front of the mirror examining my teeth. Then I went to the kitchen, poured some cold, leftover coffee from the morning, sat down and wrote back.

Five months later, my IQ is back to normal. I am still nervous and panicked, but very happy – delirious even. It has been almost five years since I’ve started blogging and it would be a lie if I had said the thought of writing my own cookbook never crossed my mind. Developing recipes, styling food, taking photos and hunting at eBay for props are true passions of mine (and as of April became my job description), and I would like to do those things for the rest of my life, but working on a cookbook is a huge responsibility. I always thought I would find enough time only when I retire, move to Carmel and open up my antique store there. I would have all the time in the world then. But now? Now I have to finish the book in a year (maybe two). And I will not only write the book, but also do the styling, take all the photos (every recipe will have a photo) AND – if I can do it- design it.

As of now, the cookbook is scheduled to be published in Turkey only. Unfortunately, that means the majority of you won’t be able to enjoy the recipes, photos and stories, but I have this wild dream of publishing it in English as well and hope that it comes true one day.

I started working on the book about two months ago and have been testing recipes, hunting for props and writing stories since then. I just wanted to calm down before I told you all about it. I don’t want to go into too much detail about the content for now, but if you’ve been following my blog for a while, you can guess what sort of recipes will make it into the book.

A couple of weeks ago, I invited my editors over for dinner and we tested a few recipes. The first one is this Chocolate and Vietnamese Coffee Tart.

Chocolate and Vietnamese Coffee Tart

And then these dinner rolls. They are fantastic, especially when they come right out of the oven.

Dinner Rolls

Now I have to head back to the kitchen and start trying out some new recipes. Summer’s bounty is beckoning.

I’ll be back with book updates, new recipes and photos from my upcoming short travels. Check back soon, OK?

July 7, 2010 · 87 Comments Categories: Cookbook Tags: cafe fernando cookbook

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Simone

    July 7, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    Wow… how cool is that! Congratulations!! I saw a RT from Helen (Tartelette) and just had to come and check it out. That must indeed be a dream come true. I love your blog and love your photography so I am sure it will all work out fine. And you would not be the first cookbook author to become wildly famous around the world so who knows it might indeed be published in english as well!

    Reply
  2. Nicole

    July 7, 2010 at 6:06 pm

    Congratulations!! And don’t worry, your fans will wait for the English language book that I’m sure will follow 🙂

    Reply
  3. SleeplessInKL

    July 7, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    Congrats 🙂 Can’t wait to see the final product.

    Reply
  4. Ghille

    July 7, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    Oh my…those dinner rolls look so yummy!

    I’ll be watching for the book in English!

    Reply
  5. MariannaF

    July 7, 2010 at 7:25 pm

    that is such great news, congrats!! i hope the book will be published in english too! this must be very exciting and it is indeed pretty much every food blogger’s dream! good luck for the rest and keep us updated 🙂

    Reply
  6. Patricia

    July 7, 2010 at 7:27 pm

    Congratulations! I can only imagining how happy you are, because nothing is greastes than have a dream come true!

    Lots of luck and if you can, once in a while, show us how everything is running into.

    Again congrats,

    Patricia
    Brazil

    Reply
  7. Kian

    July 7, 2010 at 7:49 pm

    Congrats! I’m sure it will be a successful cookbook. Yes, we’d all love to have your cookbook in English.

    Reply
  8. kamran siddiqi

    July 7, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    Cenk – congratulation on your cookbook! I cannot wait to read the English version of it! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Umut Uygar

    July 7, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    Tebrikler. İlk müşterilerinden biri ben olacağım.

    Reply
  10. Feebee 62

    July 7, 2010 at 9:36 pm

    Well what a perfect break talk about being there at the right time,you will never look back.
    your name will grow as your food shows your talent of expression. Only my best wishes follow you.
    English version would be amazing when this one is published. Congratulations my friend.

    Reply
  11. Ozgeee

    July 7, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    Oh la la! Eminim hem tarifler, hem de içerik çok keyifli olacak. Heyecanla bekliyorum:)

    Reply
  12. Leesa Garcia

    July 8, 2010 at 2:06 am

    Merhaba Cenk!

    WOW!!! Sooo exciting! You DO know that you will have to come up with an English translation for your cookbook, right?!
    Good luck to you in your upcoming project… Can’t wait to hear/see more about it on your blog…

    Take care,
    Leesa

    Reply
  13. Bbq Dude

    July 8, 2010 at 6:24 am

    Congrats on the recipe book. At least post the photos, so those of us who don’t read Turkish can enjoy them…

    Reply
  14. Oburcan

    July 8, 2010 at 10:18 am

    Harika haber,çok sevindim.Sabırsızlıkla bekliyorum !!

    Reply
  15. yasemin

    July 8, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    finally…..:))))
    I’m sure it will be a great success..
    I am looking forward to it..:))

    Reply
  16. Nevra Sezer

    July 8, 2010 at 3:25 pm

    Cenk, this is just the kind of news I had been waiting to hear from you 🙂 I am so excited for you, and surely I am also excited for the opportunity to be one of the lucky readers 🙂

    Reply
  17. Joana

    July 8, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    So HAPPYYYYYYYYY for you. I wish you all the best and I hope one day we can see it in English.It’s nice to see the hard work pay off. So … once again GOOD LUCK.

    Reply
  18. Maria Beatrix

    July 8, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    Wow! Congrats. It worth learning Turkish!
    I don’t think I can stand wainting for this in whatever other language…

    Reply
  19. Neeti

    July 8, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    Congrats….!!! I cant read Turkish but the idea of English version sounds great.All the best for your book.

    Reply
  20. Sarah

    July 8, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    Congratulations, I’m sure it will be a delight. Please assure your editors that an English language release would have customers everywhere. Global economy and all that, not to mention all the English speaking people living in the region already. Your blog has a global following, your cookbook will too.

    Reply
  21. Ozlem

    July 8, 2010 at 5:46 pm

    Hmm, I knew you had a cookbook coming out when you first said you were leaving your job.

    Congratulations and I’m looking forward to seeing it. Too bad your book won’t be in English but I’ll just have to check out the Turkish version…I’m sure they’ll have it on sites like Tulumba.com, right?

    Also, do NOT tell me I’ll have to wait till the book comes out to get the recipe for the Vietnamese Coffee Tart, it looks so good!

    Reply
  22. Irene

    July 8, 2010 at 6:20 pm

    congratulation! I hope it will be in English as well and have non metric measurements. I have enjoyed following your site and your history in SF, as I live there as well.

    Reply
  23. Fazela

    July 8, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    This is fabulous!!! Congratulations and loads of best wishes on this new endeavor. Have fun all the way!!

    Reply
  24. Rachelino

    July 8, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    Congratulations Cenk! I love your vietnamese coffee twist on a chocolate tart. Very clever and makes your time in SF evident.
    If you need any recipes tested, I will happily volunteer. Metric is fine; you know we serious bakers use scales! 🙂
    Kudos to you and mazel tov!

    Reply
  25. Clarice

    July 8, 2010 at 8:23 pm

    Congratulations! Please let your editors know that your many San Francisco fans will be anxiously awaiting the English version. When you go on your book tour (!), you must contact Celia, the owner of Omnivore Books, so you can talk about your new book: http://www.omnivorebooks.com/
    I hope to meet you there one day!

    Reply
  26. Jill McKeever

    July 8, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    Congratulations! You’re going to have one of the most mouthwatering cookbook on the planet.

    Reply
  27. Hope

    July 8, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Good luck!

    I’ll be watching for the book in English.

    Reply
  28. Nisrine@Dinners & Dreams

    July 9, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    Congratulations!!! Well deserved! I am confident your cookbook will a masterpiece and can’t wait for it to be published in English.

    Reply
  29. Lora

    July 9, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    Congratulations! Well deserved and I look forward to the English version.

    Reply
  30. irepkrep

    July 9, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    Go Cenk gooo! I am so excited and thrilled. And I am looking forward to your book.

    Reply
  31. Kerrin @ MyKugelhopf

    July 10, 2010 at 2:03 am

    why do i suddenly have the urge to learn turkish ?! 🙂 congratulations !! how exciting ! i’ll still be buying the book as soon as it comes out, if simply to admire your gorgeous food styling and photography, from cover to cover. lots of good luck ! looking forward to previews along the way…

    Reply
  32. nandini.p

    July 10, 2010 at 9:10 am

    Congratulations!!!. Absolutely delighted to know about ur cookbook. Waiting for the english version. The Chocolate tart looks divine.

    Reply
  33. robin

    July 10, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    I would love to have your cookbook, I hope it includes lots of wonderful photos!Heres waiting to see the english version………Good Luck to you.

    Reply
  34. Paula

    July 11, 2010 at 3:22 pm

    I absolutely love that tart!

    Reply
  35. astheroshe

    July 11, 2010 at 5:33 pm

    Congratulations! I am sure you could get it published in English..and i look foward to it. What an awesome adventure for you 🙂

    Reply
  36. Ivonne

    July 11, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    Congratulations, Cenk! Based on your blog, I know it’s going to be a beautiful cookbook!

    Reply
  37. Cenk

    July 11, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    Thank you all for your great wishes. Fingers crossed for the English version.

    Ozlem – I’ll look into that and will let you know. Re: Vietnamese Coffee Tart, you would have to wait for the book! I promise, it will be worth the wait.

    Rachelino – Many thanks for the offer 🙂 All recipes need to be tested with the ingredients available here to maintain a standard (some are very different than what you can find in the US). But if I ever start working on the English version, I’ll definitely let you know.

    Clarice – Book tour! Sounds almost surreal. Thanks for the suggestion – I am a huge fan of Omnivore Books and it would be an honor to have my book displayed there. Hope to meet you there one day, too!

    Reply
  38. Charles G Thompson

    July 11, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    Congratulations! That is amazing, wonderful news. I don’t speak or read Turkish but if you tell us where we can buy one I’ll buy one anyway! That Chocolate and Vietnamese Tart looks like my kind of dessert – so chocalate-y!

    Reply
  39. Emma

    July 11, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    This is awesome news!!! Congratulations Cenk.

    Reply
  40. beth

    July 11, 2010 at 11:32 pm

    Can’t wait to bake from it. Please include that chocolate cheesecake.. that’s the best I’ve baked so far.

    Reply
  41. Soo

    July 12, 2010 at 3:03 am

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’m sure it’ll be a great experience. Wow, just imagine yourself holding your finished cookbook in your hands…

    Reply
  42. Val

    July 12, 2010 at 5:00 am

    Cenk,

    I have been following this blog for quite some time and am really in love with it. There is no doubt in my mind that you can get an English version published. You have great talent, have faith in yourself!

    Reply
  43. Barb

    July 12, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    Wow that is great news !! Congratulations, hope to see an English version too 🙂

    Reply
  44. Hummingbird Appetite

    July 12, 2010 at 3:45 pm

    Congratulations! I hope it will be printed in the U.S., too.

    Reply
  45. Dudegr

    July 12, 2010 at 8:51 pm

    So proud of you and not at all surprised.

    Reply
  46. Pat

    July 13, 2010 at 4:06 am

    Oh, yes, English, please!! It will be a bestseller, I’m sure. Congratulations, Cenk! I NEED that chocolate and Vietnamese coffee tart recipe. Cheers!

    Reply
  47. Julie

    July 13, 2010 at 7:19 am

    Such wonderful news for such a talented guy! Congratulations!

    Reply
  48. Natalie

    July 13, 2010 at 8:40 am

    Congratulations! Hopefully they will publish it in English.

    Reply
  49. Sarah

    July 13, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    P.S. Any recipes for Ralph?

    Reply
    • Cenk

      July 16, 2010 at 12:36 pm

      Sarah – Ralph passed away a year ago 🙁 Never thought of including a recipe in his honor, but sounds like a great idea! Many thanks for the suggestion.

      Reply
  50. red dragon

    July 13, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    Selam Cenk,

    We’ve been using your recipes forever ve de kitabini hemen kapacagiz cikinca. Yolun acik olsun.

    Reply
  51. Mirşad

    July 14, 2010 at 11:08 am

    Super haber kesinlikle hemen alacagım, tebrikler.

    Reply
  52. Maggie

    July 14, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    What a great opportunity!! I hope your book is just as or even more successful than your blog.

    Reply
  53. Elif

    July 14, 2010 at 6:02 pm

    Cenk,

    Congrats. Can’t wait for the book, well deserved.

    Reply
  54. Anna

    July 14, 2010 at 9:01 pm

    That is so exciting! I love your blog and your photography is fabulous, I’m sure the book will be great!

    Reply
  55. Maninas

    July 16, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    Congratulations! Well deserved!

    Reply
  56. Shaheen

    July 19, 2010 at 6:09 pm

    Dinner rolls look perfect!

    Reply
  57. Marisa

    July 20, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    Congrats! So you’ll teach us Turkish so we won’t miss out on your first book, right?

    PS: Love your writing style.

    Reply
  58. Kimby

    July 22, 2010 at 9:35 pm

    Tebrikler and congratulations!! Your book will be great, in any language!!
    Your book will be incentive for me to improve my Turkish!

    Reply
  59. zeynep

    July 23, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    sooo happy for you and even happier for myself
    i can hardly wait…

    Reply
  60. fragolina

    July 27, 2010 at 2:45 pm

    Congratulations for the new cookbook. From these 2 pictures, I bet that the book will be fabulous.

    Reply
  61. Soma

    July 28, 2010 at 5:51 am

    Congrats Cenk! As if anyone can expect anything less from you. Just seeing these 2 pictures, I would get the book, even if I could not read a word of it. Great news!

    Reply
  62. Andreas

    August 1, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    I wish you a great success and guess that it will be… looking forward to your book!

    Reply
  63. Tara

    August 2, 2010 at 7:30 pm

    Very happy for your good news. Hayirli olsun! If you need someone to help taste your recipes, this Bay Area girl is moving from Golcuk to Istanbul in September. Joking aside, best of luck in your creative endeavor. You inspire the rest of us!

    Reply
  64. thepinkpeppercorn

    August 8, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    Awesome! Enjoy the process, it surely will be delicious.

    Reply
  65. layal

    August 8, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    congratulations! I will buy the book along wiith a turkish english dictionary. I like your style of writing and presentatio. All the best.

    Reply
  66. joey

    September 3, 2010 at 8:53 am

    Congratulations Cenk! This is truly well deserved! Your dishes and images are gorgeous, with delicious recipes to match so I’m sure your book will be a roaring success!

    My only with is that you do indeed one day publish in English so we can enjoy it as well 🙂

    Bravo!

    Reply
  67. Simon

    February 26, 2011 at 2:02 am

    Good Luck with the Cookbook,
    I read your blog regularly, I am not a cook but I look at recipes for occasional inspiration to surprise my middle eastern wife.

    Reply
  68. Dilek

    March 6, 2011 at 8:44 am

    Merhaba,

    Tebrikler, doğrusu ilk yemek kitabınızın çıkacağını öğrenmek beni de heyecanlandırdı. Blogunuzun düzenliliği, içeriği ve gördüğü ilgi düşünüldüğünde mükemmel bir iş çıkaracağınızdan şüphem yok. Kitabınızı heyecanla bekliyorum.

    Dilek

    (Congratulations, I am also excited about your first cookbook. Considering the content, the well ordered structure of your blog and the interest of people towards your blog makes me sure that will be a great one. I am looking forward to have one of them.)

    Reply
  69. Alev

    March 30, 2011 at 12:58 am

    Hi Cenk,

    Will the Turkish version be available in US?

    Reply
    • Cenk

      March 30, 2011 at 9:20 am

      Alev – I don’t know right now, but I’ll look into it.

      Reply
  70. Jenne

    April 29, 2011 at 5:30 am

    I just stumbled upon your incredible site, I’m totally smitten. I hope I don’t have to find a Turkish interpreter, if so, it’ll be worth it! How exciting!

    Reply
  71. Paula

    July 20, 2011 at 11:58 pm

    Hi I just found your blog and I wanted to see if you had an English version of your cookbook yet?

    Reply
    • Cenk

      July 26, 2011 at 11:43 pm

      Paula – Hi! My cookbook is scheduled to be published in Turkish only. I don’t have plans for an English version at the moment, but if I ever do, you’ll read about it as soon as I sign the papers.

      Reply
  72. Paula

    July 27, 2011 at 12:01 am

    Maybe I should learn how to speak Turkish 🙂 Thank you for letting me know.

    Reply
  73. Aubrey

    August 16, 2011 at 7:15 am

    Hey! I just found your blog via the 50 Best Food blogs list, and it does indeed deserve to be there. Congrats on your book, and I really hope it comes out in English! I’d buy the Turkish version for the pretty photos, but the recipes would be wasted on me.

    Reply
    • Cenk

      August 20, 2011 at 2:26 pm

      Aubrey – You’ll buy just for the photos? Well, thank you! I’m flattered.

      Reply
  74. Vildan Yahni

    January 24, 2012 at 6:48 pm

    Hi Cenk,
    Congrats on the book! I’m surprised you don’t have a publisher for the English version yet… all they have to do is visit this site to see what they are missing!!! I can read the Turkish version, but do prefer to wait for the English version though. Have you decided how many recipes you will have? As a fairly new blogger, you are an inspiration!

    Reply
    • Cenk

      January 25, 2012 at 3:06 pm

      Vildan Yahni – Thank you! I haven’t decided on the number of the recipes just yet.

      Reply
  75. erinc

    February 1, 2012 at 4:20 pm

    i have been following your blog for such a long time. looking forward to your cookbook ! congrats ! 🙂

    Reply
  76. Lana Kent

    April 26, 2012 at 6:29 am

    I’m from Vietnam and so excited when I see Chocolate and Vietnamese Coffee Tart :D. All of your photos are really really lovely and beautiful.

    Reply
  77. rukiye

    September 5, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    CENK,çok teşşekkürler harika paylaşımlar bunlar .mutfak senin sayende daha eğlenceli:)

    Reply
  78. Henry

    October 3, 2012 at 4:51 am

    Thank you for your wonderful blog, Cenk! So glad that all the work you put in the past few years paid off! I started my own blog recently and just wanted to tell you that you were a source of inspiration!

    Reply
  79. Mine

    November 20, 2013 at 3:11 am

    Hi Cenk! Any updates on the book? I really miss your gorgeous recipes, stories & pictures by the way. Hope all is okay with you 🙂
    Greetings from the Southern Hemisphere x

    Reply
    • Cenk

      June 16, 2014 at 7:05 am

      Mine – Yes, it is out! I’ll write a post about it here soon.

      Reply
  80. Shree

    June 21, 2014 at 9:11 pm

    Hi Cenk,

    I just came across your blog while watching FIFA Germany vs Ghana n I must tell you that I was getting distracted from such a interesting game cause of your beautiful writing n pics. It’s such a wonder that I am unable to stop reading. Reading about your book got me more excited and if I was reading that now, am sure I would have not been able to put the book down till I read the last page. So fingers crossed that it is soon published and available here in the US.
    Next few days, months am going to be busy reading each one of your story, recipe and can’t wait to try these different recipes with my husband in our kitchen. we both live n love food.
    So a BIG thank you and keep blogging n creating magic with your food n pics.

    Reply
  81. Mandy

    March 26, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    Oh please please put up the recipe for the tart. I’ve been having dreams about how it tastes for days 😉 and like the other comments above, I have contemplated learning Turkish!

    Reply

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