Aegean

‘What a fantastic book! The generous Cretan sun shines from every page, this book is so much more than a cookbook, it’s a love song to a very special place and its delicious culture, and we are lucky to have the brilliant Marianna as our guide to this magical island.’ * Itamar Srulovich, co-founder of Honey & Co. * ‘Aegean sun and sea and perfect fisherman’s soup. A delicious evocation of place and memory from one of my favourite cooks.’ * Allan Jenkins, Editor of Observer Food Monthly * ‘A gorgeous, evocative and deeply personal book that transports you to Crete and celebrates its cuisine through the cooking of one of our most exciting chefs. The brilliant Marianna holds your hand as she guides you from the crystal waters of the coast to the craggy mountains of her beloved homeland, cooking up the most delicious creations along the way. I want to make everything in this beautiful book. An absolute treasure.’ * Rosie Birkett, author of The Joyful Home Cook *

Marianna Leivaditaki is the head chef at Morito, Hackney Road. She grew up in Chania, Crete, where her father is a fisherman. They had a local seafood restaurant where Marianna helped in the kitchen from an early age. After studying forensic psychology in the UK, cycling round southern Europe and volunteering in Ecuador, she went back to work in the family restaurant for two years. She returned to the UK and asked Sam and Sam Clark of Moro for a job at Moro and has worked for them ever since. She has written recipes for Guardian Cook, was on the front cover of Observer Food Monthly magazine and helped to write the Morito cookbook. She is a judge of the Observer Food Monthly Awards.