Hi, I’m İrem, and I’ll welcome you into my Istanbul home for a laid-back, laughter-filled meze workshop. This isn’t a cooking class in a studio — it’s a gathering around my kitchen table, just like we’d do with friends and family.

We’ll start with tea and some fresh seasonal fruit, and then dive into the wonderful world of Turkish mezes. I’ll guide you through making a colorful selection: maybe haydari with strained yogurt and dill, a silky hummus with roasted tahini, and some spicy acılı ezme or smoky eggplant salad — it always depends on what’s fresh and what we feel like making. As we chop, stir, and taste, I’ll share stories about where these dishes come from and how they’ve been part of our everyday rituals for generations.

Once the table is full, we’ll sit and enjoy our creations with fresh bread and good conversation. You’ll leave with your heart full, your belly happy, and your own meze recipes to recreate the memory.