Few large projects can be undertaken single-handedly and this one was no exception. I owe many thanks to family, friends, kind strangers and others, particularly those listed below.
Sri and Roger Owen who brought my project to the attention of the right publisher; Pia Lim-Castillo for her unflagging support and practical help; my husband Henk and children Judy and Leon whose appetites helped shape this book; my agents Charlotte Bruton and John McLaughlin who took all the burden of worrisome details off my shoulders; Yvonne Gouveia; Tom Jaine; Bee Wilson; Frans Douwes and Loes de Jong.
My Turkish friends and acquaintances who have been so kind and generous in very many ways. In Konya: Nevin Halıcı, Örnek Bakery, the squad of specialist baking ladies at Kösk Restaurant and the nameless bakers and vendors who cheerfully and patiently answered my endless flow of questions. In Ankara: Aylin Öney Tan; in Gaziantep: Filiz Hösükoglu, Harun Akköz and the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry.
The people at Pavilion: Emily Preece-Morrison who commissioned the book and enthusiastically saw it through all its stages; copy editor Caroline Curtis; designer Louise Leffler; cover designer Georgina Hewitt; production manager Rebekah Cheyne. The combined efforts of props stylist Wei Tang, food stylist and home economist Jane Suthering and photographer Vanessa Courtier produced the most gorgeous photographs.
© Royal Asiatic Society, London, UK/The Bridgeman Art Library
© Imagestate Media Partners Ltd – Impact Photos/Alamy