PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Irina Georgescu is a Romanian food writer and author of Carpathia, a book that celebrates Romanian home cooking. Irina's recipes draw on her Eastern European heritage – she has always felt very strongly about exploring the world through food and understanding people through what they eat. Her love and commitment to talking about Romanian culinary traditions encouraged her to pursue her dream to write about Romania, its food and its heritage.
Like all the best cookbooks, Tava is as interested in the history and culture of Romania, as it is in all things sweet and baked. Enlightening, evocative and irresistible. * Tom Parker Bowles * A rare glimpse into a rich and diverse baking culture, this beautiful book is packed full of fascinating stories and recipes I can't wait to taste. * Felicity Cloake * Romania is not yet well known as a gastronomic destination, but Irina Georgescu's Tava is set to change that. This delightful and unpretentious book tells the story of her culture through comforting food memories and delicious recipes for baking and desserts. * Richard Bertinet * Tava is so accomplished in ambrosial gumption, the words exploding in my head are which should I try first. I love the clarity of sun-filled photography and pretty pastry, and the unexpected layers beneath of '...opium with sugar and spices', walnuts instead of flour, noodles, rum, history, politics, Hungary v. Romania... Belle Epoque in Bucharest. I conclude there are no empty calories where Georgescu's presentation of Romanian and Eastern European confectionery is concerned. Everything is invested with allure and cleverness. Such a beautiful book. * Yemisi Aribisala * What a transporting cookbook Tava is! Here are tempting recipes for Romanian cakes, pastries, biscuits and other treats made using delightful ingredients such as rose petals, chestnuts, walnuts, sour cherries and poppy seeds. Importantly - and evocatively - Irina Georgescu sets the rich tapestry of Romanian baking in a historic and social context, giving readers an insight into what has shaped and influenced Romanian cuisine. * Jenny Linford * I love Irina Georgescu's writing. Carpathia was one of my favourite books of 2020 and Tava is equally exciting: a celebration of Romanian baking that is full of a sense of light and life. Matt Russell's photography is gorgeous. The recipes set me dreaming of strudels and poppy seed crescents and I can't wait to start baking from it. * Bee Wilson * Start reading and you won't be able to stop. Fascinating as well as delicious... Her writing is eloquent and heartfelt. * Diana Henry's Autumn 2022 Best Cookbooks, The Telegraph *
