Smoke and Seasoned Bread

With over 80 recipes, this cookbook is a deep dive into the heart of Turkish cuisine—a love letter to those who cherish food, travel, and the stories that bind them.

Though language, culture and flavors are shared, Hasan Semay's Turkish Cypriot upbringing meant mainland Turkey felt distant and exciting. Arriving on the south coast of Turkey, he travels across mountains to the corners of the country; not only unveiling culinary traditions, but unearthing the very history that flavors them. Along the way, he discovers kebabs that bridge generations, stews that tell tales, breads that warm your soul, and desserts that are sweet escapism—draped in buttery layers of history and dripping with syrup. The result is a fascinating and meticulously researched blend of recipes, travelog, history & memoir.