Boston Flora

Tag: Sarma

  • Saturday, April 29 – Sunday, May 7 – Small-Group Cooking Experience on the Aegean Coast of Turkey with Ana Sortun

    This 8-day Culinaria is special in so many ways. You’ll have hands-on cooking classes with two incredible cooks—Chef Semsa Denizsel, who left her well-loved restaurant in Istanbul, Kantin, and created the Cooks Grove, a cooking and event space near Ayvalik on the Turkish Aegean Coast, and Chef Ana Sortun, beloved, amazing chef and owner of Oleana, Sofra and Sarma.  The hands-on cooking lessons at Cooks Grove will be in small groups of 12 maximum, giving you lots of individual attention. We’re excited about this new format—half the group will cook with Semsa, a well known Turkish chef and dear friend of Ana’s, while the other half explores cheese farms, the market, cultural sights the town with Ana. Then, the two groups switch!

    We’ll also explore markets, visit food producers, and eat at restaurants that Chef Semsa knows and loves. We’ll also be accompanied by Banu Ozden, who is incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish food and wines, and is a great friend of Ana’s and Oldways’. No doubt! You’ll have an extraordinary experience.

    Since we’re on the Aegean Coast of Turkey, we’ll also visit two historic sites—Pergamon and the incredible Ephesus, south of Izmir. We’ll have wonderful meals in and around Izmir, and you’ll be able to experience the Izmir market, wineries, a fish auction, and the making (and tasting) of katmer, a truly delicious Turkish breakfast dish.   

    In addition, if you (and others) are interested in a food tour in Istanbul at the end of our 8 days by the Aegean, we can make arrangements for a very special food tour experience with Banu Ozden. Questions?  Please read our Travel FAQ here. Call us at (617) 896-4861, or email us at Travel@OldwaysPT.org

    For complete daily itineraries, cost, and flight information visit Oldways Cultural Food Traditions website HERE.

    Photo courtesy of Cooks Grove

  • Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4 – Taste America – Boston

    The renowned James Beard Foundation is coming to Boston. On Friday, November 3 beginning at 6 pm at the Taj Boston, enjoy a dinner created by Taste America All-Star Daniel Boulud of Bar Boulud (New York City), Local Star Karen Akunowicz of Myers + Chang (Boston), Pastry Chef Maura Kilpatrick of Oleana Restaurant (Cambridge), and Host Gurminder Gidda of Taj Boston (Boston).  Reception Tastings created by Carolyn Johnson of 80 Thoreau (Concord), Michael Lombardi and Kevin O’Donnell of SRV (Boston), Juan Pedrosa of Yvonne’s (Boston), Cassie Piuma of Sarma (Somerville), and Marc Sheehan of Loyal Nine (Cambridge). The Guest Master of Ceremony is Jenny Johnson, Producer and Co-Host of NESN’s Dining Playbook.

    Tickets (starting at $275) are available now on line at www.jamesbeard.org. The James Beard Foundation is proud to donate a portion of the evening’s proceeds to the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America Scholarship Fund. From April 1 through May 15, 2018 local culinary students are invited to apply through jamesbeard.org.

    Two free demonstrations will also take place over the weekend. On Saturday, November 4 at 10:00 am, Daniel Boulud will conduct a cooking demonstration at Sur La Table at Copley Place, followed by a book signing at 11.  At noon, Karen Akunowicz will take over for another hour of cooking demonstrations, and she will sign books at 1 pm. Tickets are essential since space is limited, and reservations will be taken at www.jamesbeard.org starting Friday, October 20.

  • Tuesday, January 12, 6:30 pm – A Bazaar of Flavors: Bringing the Middle East to Boston

    The 2016 Ayer Mansion Lecture Series kicks off Tuesday, January 12 at 6:30 pm with Ana Sortun, Executive Chef and Owner and Maura Kilpatrick, Executive Pastry Chef, of Oleana Restaurant Group (Sofra, Oleana, and Sarma), with a program entitled A Bazaar of Flavors: Bringing the Middle East to Boston.  Wine and cheese will be served at 6:30 followed by the lecture at 7.  The Ayer Mansion is located at 395 Commonwealth Avenue, and tickets may be purchased online at http://www.AyerMansion.org.  $35 per person.