Q&A with Tessa Kiros
Tessa Kiros's books are among our all-time favourites, so we were thrilled when she agreed to do today's Q&A and share what she's reading, eating and loving at the moment.
Photo of Tessa by her daughter Yasmine Neri @lazyas
I remember the first time I opened a Tessa Kiros book, it was Falling Cloudberries, and I think it’s what sparked my life-long love of cookbooks. I fell head over heels for her writing, the photography, and the styling of her photos. And then came Apples for Jam, a Christmas present from Mum when I was pregnant with Alice.
The red shoes on the cover, the nursery food, that honey cake - this was how I wanted to cook for my family. This was how I wanted my table to be.
And I know I’m not alone - Tessa’s books have captured so many of us, and this latest one, Now & Then Then is another treasure, another book to keep, to come back to, to read and cook from and to inspire a way of life that is all candles, colour, meals shared and memories collected.
Yep. I’m a fan. So was thrilled when she agreed to do our questionnaire this week and share what she’s reading, cooking and loving at the moment.
Thank you Tessa! Sophie x
What was the last book that you read and LOVED! And why?
‘Crying in H Mart,’ by Michelle Zauner* Beautiful. It came my way unexpectedly & I loved it. It's a devastating & moving story. I love how she connects with her mother & her culture through the food her mother made for her growing up. How evocative it is of her identity & her place in this world.
*Note from us - we talked about Crying in H Mart in episode 7. You can have a listen here if you like.
What was the last meal you had in a restaurant and LOVED? And why?
Hervé Pronzato in Athens. It’s what I cannot make at home – I used to work with him in Athens. His food is incredible, just amazing. A dégustation menu – about 15 courses. I would go back even for the chargrilled okra – there was one on the side of a dish - I would ask if I could have a plate of them. So many other small details to swoon over.
What was the last meal you had at home and LOVED? And why?
The one my girls made me. A Korean-inspired cucumber that was viral on TikTok all the seasoning & dressing seeps in because of its spiral shape. And Tteokbokki. And their Dan Dan noodles. I love it when they cook.
What’s your go-to comfort read?
Like water for chocolate by Laura Esquivel
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Can we have more than 1?!
Spaghetti al pomodoro/ Salt & vinegar chips/ Kitchari/ Greek avgolemono soup/ Toasted cheese with a cup of sweet milky chai
A cookbook you are loving cooking out of at the moment?
Emiko Davies’ ‘Gohan - Everyday Japanese Cooking’ – I am loving it.
And that small old fashioned book from Anandita ‘Pure Vegetarian Indian cookery’ Pritam Uberois – I adore cooking from this type of book!
You get to invite 4 of your favourite writers over for dinner. Who are they, and what will you cook them?
Maddhur Jaffrey
Deepak Chopra
Claudia Roden
Clarissa Pinkola Estes
(& Matthew McConaughy)
For dinner, I would make a few recipes from my new book:
Pomelo salad
Roast stuffed artichokes
Grilled Piri Piri Prawns with lemon & garlic butter
Grilled Corn with lime, chilli & cheese
Toasted almond vanilla and chocolate ice cream
Cherry Pie
Thank you Tessa and a reminder we will be back in two weeks with our Christmas episode, our last for 2023.