Madam Barbunya’s Istanbul Diaries

What a whirlwind June 2026 was! The launch of Madam Barbunya in Istanbul meant three wonderful book signings, two on the European side and one on the Asian side. The first one turned into an unexpected and very emotional journey down memory lane. Friends from primary school all the way to university, my parents’ friends, my brother’s friends, ex-colleagues … people from so many different chapters of my life, all suddenly in the same bookstore. It was quite wonderful!

The celebrations continued with a memorable culinary tasting experience, where I had the pleasure of being invited as a special guest with my book to Yayamızın Sofrası, hosted by Lian Penso, podcaster and author of Köklere Dönüş, Chef Tamar Bal, and Karin Şanlı, founder of Kharzita.

A beautiful celebration of food, roots, memories and heartfelt encounters. Here are a few moments from those unforgettable days 🤍