For readers of Ken Follett's Kingsbridge series and Richard C. Morais's The Hundred-Foot Journey, a sweeping tale of love and the magic of food set during the Ottoman Empire.
A Pasha of Cuisine is a rare talent in Ottoman lore. Only two, maybe three are born with such a gift every few centuries. A natural master of gastronomy, he is the sovereign genius who reigns over aromas and flavors and can use them to influence the hearts and minds, even the health, of those who taste his creations. In this fabulous novel, one such chef devises a plot bring down the Ottoman Empire-should he need to-in order to rescue the love of his life from the sultan's harem.
Himself a survivor of the bloodiest massacre ever recorded within the Imperial Palace after the passing of the last sultan, he is spirited away through the palace kitchens, where his potential was recognized. Across the empire, he is apprenticed one by one to the best chefs in all culinary disciplines and trained in related arts, such as the magic of spices, medicine, and the influence of the stars. It is during his journeys that he finds happiness with the beautiful, fiery dancing girl Kamer, and the two make plans to marry. Before they can elope, Kamer is sold into the Imperial Harem, and the young chef must find his way back into the Imperial Kitchens and transform his gift into an unbeatable weapon.
"The Pasha of Cuisine is a captivating, witty, and delicious tale. This is the best kind of historical fantasy; in which the protagonist leaps off the page and through the centuries with his schemes and his heartbreak . . . instantly relatable. A novel to engage all the senses, readers will find themselves tempted to recreate our cook's travels and his dishes!"
S. A. Chakraborty, author of City of Brass
"Even if you aren't hungry when you open The Pasha of Cuisine, I predict you'll soon be making a restaurant reservation. Saygin Ersin's novel is both a love letter to sophisticated Turkish cuisine and a fascinating window into the Ottoman Empire. Ersin proves that a well-cooked dish can save a life, make someone fall in love, and become the foundation for a magical, utterly unique story."
Sujata Massey, author of The Widows of Malabar Hill
"A richly detailed historical journey through the kitchens of the near East. If the skillful storytelling and surprising plot twists don't grip your imagination, the smells and tastes conjured on every page surely will. The Pasha of Cuisine introduces readers to the intricate and sophisticated world of the Ottoman Empire, from the perspective of its magical cuisine and its skillful conjurers."
