Yotam Ottolenghi facts for kids
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| Born | Yotam Assaf Ottolenghi 14 December 1968 Jerusalem |
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| Cooking style | Middle Eastern |
| Education | Tel Aviv University (Adi Lautman Interdisciplinary Programme for Outstanding Students) Le Cordon Bleu |
| Spouse |
Karl Allen
(m. 2012) |
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Current restaurant(s)
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Previous restaurant(s)
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Television show(s)
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Award(s) won
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Yotam Assaf Ottolenghi, born on December 14, 1968, is a famous chef, restaurant owner, and food writer. He was born in Israel and is now a British citizen. With his partner, Sami Tamimi, he owns several popular delis and restaurants in London. He has also written many bestselling cookbooks, like Plenty and Jerusalem.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Yotam Ottolenghi grew up in Jerusalem, Israel. His father was a chemistry professor, and his mother was a high school principal. His family has roots in Italy and Germany. As a child, he often spent his summer holidays in Italy.
In 1989, Ottolenghi joined the Israel Defence Forces and served for three years. After his military service, he went to Tel Aviv University. There, he earned a degree in comparative literature in 1997. He also worked as a night editor for a newspaper called Haaretz.
In 1997, Ottolenghi moved to Amsterdam. He worked there editing the Hebrew section of a Dutch-Jewish newspaper. Later, he moved to London to study French pastry cooking at Le Cordon Bleu.
Family Life in London
Yotam Ottolenghi met his partner, Karl Allen, in 2000. They got married in 2012. They live in London with their two sons, who were born in 2013 and 2015.
Culinary Journey and Restaurants
Ottolenghi started his cooking career as a pastry chef in London. He worked at famous restaurants like The Capital Restaurant. In 1999, he became the head pastry chef at Baker and Spice. This is where he met Sami Tamimi, a chef from Jerusalem. They became friends because they both spoke Hebrew and shared a love for food.
Opening the Ottolenghi Delis
In 2002, Ottolenghi and Tamimi opened their first deli, called Ottolenghi, in London's Notting Hill area. This deli quickly became very popular. People loved its creative dishes, which often featured lots of vegetables. The food also used unique flavor mixes and ingredients from the Middle East, like rose water and pomegranate molasses. Ottolenghi once said he wants "drama in the mouth" with his cooking.
The Ottolenghi brand has grown a lot since then. They now have several delis and restaurants across London. These include NOPI in Soho and ROVI, which focuses on vegetable dishes.
Writing for The Guardian
In 2006, Ottolenghi started writing a weekly food column for The Guardian newspaper. His column was called "The New Vegetarian." Even though he isn't a vegetarian himself, his recipes often highlight vegetables. He wanted to show that vegetables can be the main star of a dish, not just a side.
Cookbooks and Television Shows
Yotam Ottolenghi has written many successful cookbooks. His first book, Ottolenghi: The Cookbook, came out in 2008. He then wrote Plenty (2010), which was all about vegetable recipes. Other popular books include Jerusalem (2012) and Simple (2018). His cookbooks are known for their clear instructions and beautiful photos. Many people say his books have changed how Londoners cook and eat. Bon Appétit magazine even said he "made the world love vegetables."
Ottolenghi has also hosted several TV shows about food. These include Jerusalem on a Plate (2011) and Ottolenghi's Mediterranean Feast (2012). He has also been a guest judge on Masterchef Australia several times. He likes this show because it focuses on the contestants' growth, not just the competition.
Published Works
- Ottolenghi: The Cookbook (2008) (with Sami Tamimi)
- Plenty (2010)
- Jerusalem: A Cookbook (2012) (with Sami Tamimi)
- Plenty More (2014)
- NOPI (2015) (with Ramael Scully & Tara Wigley)
- Sweet: Desserts from London's Ottolenghi (2017) (with Helen Goh & Tara Wigley)
- Ottolenghi Simple (2018) (with Tara Wigley & Esme Howarth)
- Ottolenghi Flavour (2020) (with Ixta Belfrage & Tara Wigley)
- Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love (2021) (with Noor Murad)
- Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Extra Good Things (2022) (with Noor Murad)
- Ottolenghi Comfort (2024) (with Helen Goh, Verena Lochmuller & Tara Wigley)
Awards and Recognition
Yotam Ottolenghi has received many awards for his cooking and cookbooks.
- 2010: Plenty won "Food and Drink Book of the Year" at the Galaxy National Book Awards.
- 2011: Plenty also won "Best Cookbook Award" from Observer Food Monthly.
- 2013: His book Jerusalem won the "International Cookbook" award at the James Beard Awards.
- 2013: Jerusalem also won the "Cookery Book Award" from the Guild of Food Writers Awards.
- 2016: He won another James Beard Award for "Cooking from a Professional Point of View" for his book NOPI, the Cookbook.
See also
In Spanish: Yotam Ottolenghi para niños
