Cookbooks have an extremely long gestation period, and this one was no different, for it is no exaggeration to say that it began when I was four or five years old, standing in the kitchen of my family home and watching my father whip up a quick börek for his lunch. Yeah, I’m sure that you’ve read all manner of chefs say the same thing, but it is no less true for that.

I had an absolutely fabulous time writing this book. Trust me on this, working your way through the markets of Damascus, the streets of Lebanon, and the restaurants of Istanbul, is no hardship, it was a real pleasure. The weather was wonderful, the people were hospitable and the food was stupendous. Hard work, I don’t think so!

It might be a bit hackneyed to say that I am over the moon with the press coverage of Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfume, but I am! Everyone wants their baby to be loved, and I am delighted to say that the early feedback has been beyond my wildest expectations. Thank you so much to everyone for their kind words and best wishes.

The weatherman, if he’s not telling fibs, has promised us a warm weekend, so instead of a traditional Sunday roast, why not try making 

The weatherman, if he’s not telling fibs, has promised us a warm weekend, so instead of a traditional Sunday roast, why not try making veal, prawn and cumin kebabs with pomegranate, pink grapefruit and avocado salad garnished with nasturtium flowers? A dish packed with flavours from the Eastern Mediterranean. Delicious.

Silvena Rowe invites you on a journey through Oriental Mediterranean history, sampling some of the best-kept secrets of the culinary world along the way. The olive, rosemary and basil of the west are here combined with the exotic spices of the east, for a contemporary cuisine of surprising lightness and variety – proof, if proof were needed, that there is more to the Mediterranean than just Italy and France.

It’s food for sharing, food for healthy living, food for celebrating – and above all it’s delicious! Silvena Rowe gives her own modern twist to the classic recipes of a rich tradition, following in the footsteps of the great Ottoman chefs who combined the sweet and the sour, the fresh and the dried, the honey and cinnamon, saffron and sumac, scented rose and orange flower waters.

Presenting mouth-watering recipes alongside stunning photography, Purple Citrus & Sweet Perfume brings to life the natural beauty and irresistible flavours of the Eastern Mediterranean.