Lozhka

I couldn’t love this book more. -- Diana Henry

Just as you would tuck into a bowl of Alissa’s quince borscht or linger over her boozy, chocolate and smetana-layered trifle, I promise you will want to do the same with this deeply felt gem of a book. -- Polina Chesnakova

In Lozhka, award-winning writer and co-founder of #CookforUkraine, Alissa Timoshkina celebrates Eastern Europe through one of its most humble and powerful symbols: the spoon. Blending soulful recipes with rich storytelling, she brings together history, memory and cookery in a portrait of the region that is both deeply comforting and strikingly contemporary.

From herb-scented soups and hearty grain stews to pillowy dumplings and custard-soaked desserts, each dish carries a sense of meaning, memory and belonging. Drawing on a wide range of traditions, including Ukrainian, Jewish, Tatar, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak and Roma, amongst others, Lozhka reveals a borderless cuisine shaped by resilience and generosity.

Vibrant, vegetable-led and full of smoky, tangy and creamy flavours, these recipes are made for today’s kitchens while honouring centuries of tradition. More than a cookbook, Lozhka is a journey through kitchens, cultures and shared histories – an invitation to slow down, gather round and savour the stories carried in every spoonful.