Renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi speaks about his love for food, his upbringing in Jerusalem, and the challenges he faced as an openly gay man. He shares his journey in the culinary world, including his collaboration with Palestinian chef Sami Tamimi and opening his deli in Notting Hill. Ottolenghi also discusses the impact of cooking during lockdown and provides recipe recommendations for family meals.
Yotam Ottolenghi found his love for cooking by embracing non-traditional dishes and flavors.
Food in the Middle East carries political significance, sparking debates about appropriation and authenticity.
Deep dives
The Influence of Jerusalem on Yotam Ottolenghi's Love for Food
Yotam Ottolenghi shares that his love for food was shaped by the streets of Jerusalem, where he experienced the incredible variety and flavors of Middle Eastern cuisine. He reminisces about going to East Jerusalem to buy traditional Palestinian cakes and enjoying takeout hummus and labneh. The city's sensual and historic ambiance provided a backdrop for unforgettable food experiences. Ottolenghi also discusses the cultural and political complexities surrounding Middle Eastern cuisine, acknowledging the challenges of collaborations and the difficulty of separating politics from food.
Discovering a New Path in Food and Embracing Instagram
After initially pursuing a career in academia, Yotam Ottolenghi found his passion for cooking while working in various restaurants. Rejecting traditional notions of what food should be, he focused on creating dishes that he genuinely wanted to eat. Ottolenghi embraces Instagram as a valuable platform for sharing recipes and connecting with his audience. He appreciates the immediacy of feedback and the ability to inspire people to cook his recipes, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Polarity and Politics of Food
Yotam Ottolenghi acknowledges that food can be political due to the decisions and power dynamics that shape its production and consumption. He notes that the food of the Middle East carries particular political significance and raises debates about cultural appropriation and authenticity. However, he cautions against unnecessarily politicizing food when the people directly involved may not share the same concerns. He shares a personal anecdote about modifying an Irish stew recipe, which received criticism from English commenters but was embraced by his Irish mother-in-law.
The Journey to Parenthood and Surrogacy
Yotam Ottolenghi reflects on the complexities and ethical concerns surrounding surrogacy, particularly for same-sex couples. He discusses his own experience with surrogacy in the United States, emphasizing the importance of stringent regulations and thorough screening processes to ensure the well-being of all parties involved. Ottolenghi acknowledges that additional work needs to be done to establish proper legal frameworks in different countries to prevent exploitation and improve access to surrogacy for those who need it.
Samira Ahmed speaks to the chef Yotam Ottolenghi, who has arguably done more than any other food writer in recent times to change the way we cook and eat. In 2014 the American food magazine Bon Appétit wrote that he had ‘made the world love vegetables’ – although he himself is not a vegetarian. They speak about his life and career, from discovering his love of food in Jerusalem and that his grandmother was a Mossad spy to his professional partnership with Palestinian chef Sami Tamimi and navigating what it means to be a gay man and parent. He is the author of numerous cookbooks including Simple and Flavour. This discussion first aired on our award-winning podcast, How I Found My Voice, in 2021.
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