Claudia Roden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Claudia Roden CBE
Roden in 2012
Born	Claudia Douek 1936 (age 88–89) Cairo, Egypt
Nationality	British
Occupation	Cookbook writer and cultural anthropologist
Spouse(s)	Paul Roden (divorced)
Children	3
Relatives	Ellis Douek (brother)

Claudia Roden (born in 1936) is a British writer who was born in Egypt. She writes cookbooks and studies different cultures, especially through their food. She is known for her books about Middle Eastern cooking. Some of her famous books include A Book of Middle Eastern Food and Arabesque.

Early Life and Discovering Food

Claudia Roden was born in 1936 in Cairo, Egypt. Her parents came from Syrian-Jewish families who had moved to Egypt. She grew up in Cairo with her two brothers. One of her brothers is the surgeon Ellis Douek.

When she was 15 years old, Claudia was Egypt's national champion in backstroke swimming.

In 1951, she moved to Paris, France, to attend boarding school for three years. Then, in 1954, she moved to London, England. There, she studied painting at Saint Martin's School of Art. She shared an apartment with her brothers.

While living in London, Claudia started to cook for her brothers. She began to try out old family recipes. She remembered dishes like pies with eggplant and spinach, and lamb with mint. These foods were not common in London at the time. Finding the right ingredients was an exciting adventure for her.

She did not go back to Egypt for 25 years. By then, her family and many other Jewish families had left Cairo. Many of her books show how much she missed the strong community and food traditions from her childhood.

Her Career as a Food Writer

Claudia Roden's first cookbook, A Book of Middle Eastern Food, came out in 1968. This book introduced the food she grew up with in Egypt to people in Western countries. Many people did not know much about Middle Eastern food back then.

Her book has been updated many times. It has inspired famous chefs and food writers like Yotam Ottolenghi. They say she played a big part in bringing Middle Eastern food to Britain and the United States.

Claudia Roden is seen as one of the most important food writers. Like Elizabeth David and Julia Child, she helped people understand that food is more than just meals. It's also about culture, history, and who we are. Her books are like guides for making delicious food. They are also deeply researched and well-written.

Besides writing many cookbooks, Claudia Roden has also written articles about food. She has also presented cooking shows for the BBC.

Personal Life

In 1959, Claudia married Paul Roden, who imported clothes. They had three children together. They separated after 15 years.

She has lived in Hampstead Garden Suburb in London since the early 1970s.

Awards and Recognition

Claudia Roden has received many awards for her work:

• 1997: She won the National Jewish Book Award for her book The Book of Jewish Food.
• 1999: She received the Prince Claus Award. This award recognized her amazing work in culture.
• 2005: She won the André Simon Memorial Fund Food Book Prize for The Book of Jewish Food.
• 2005: She also won the Glenfiddich Best Food Book award for her book Arabesque.
• 2019: She received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Observer Food Monthly Awards.
• 2022: She was given the title Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was for her important contributions to food culture.

She is also a supporter of The Food Chain, a charity in London that helps people with HIV.

Images for kids

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  Claudia Roden (right) at the Oxford Symposium in 2006.

See also

In Spanish: Claudia Roden para niños