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When a Cooking Class Becomes a Poem

Every now and then, we receive a wonderful review from a guest telling us how much they enjoyed their time with us.

Occasionally, someone sends us a handwritten note, a thoughtful email, or a favourite photograph from the day.

But every so often, something truly unexpected arrives.

A poem.

After joining our Turkish Flavours cooking experience in Istanbul, our guest Lynn Benjamin was inspired to capture the day in verse. As a company that has welcomed thousands of guests from around the world since 2006, we have been fortunate to receive many kind words—but this is the first time someone has shared their memories with us in the form of poetry.

Lynn, together with Bob and Roseanne, spent the day discovering the aromas of the Spice Bazaar before crossing the Bosphorus by ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul. There, in the warm atmosphere of a home kitchen, they cooked a selection of traditional Turkish and Sephardic-inspired dishes under the guidance of our wonderful instructor, Sibel.

As we chopped herbs, rolled pastries, stuffed vegetables, shared stories, and finally gathered around the table to enjoy the meal we had created together, something magical happened. The experience became more than a cooking class. It became a memory worth preserving.

With Lynn’s kind permission, we are honored to share her poem.

Have You Ever Taken a Cooking Class?

By Lynn Benjamin
July 15, 2026

Have you ever taken a cooking class?

I can count on one finger
the time I took one
in my over fifty years of cooking—
a cake-making and decorating class
with my daughter when she was a child.

But today I can say
I’ve taken two classes—
the latest one yesterday
in Istanbul with Sibel,
who treated Bob, Roseanne, and me
to an extraordinary culinary experience—

starting with a visit to the Spice Bazaar
to taste and savor the flavors of Turkey;
then a short trip by ferry
to the Asian side of the strait,
to a home kitchen where we prepared
spicy bulgur wheat salad;
red pepper spread;
green beans with tomatoes,
garlic, and onions;
crispy cheese and herb-filled
pastry rolls;
stuffed eggplant with an aromatic filling;
and dried apricots simmered in wine,
then stuffed with cream
and rolled in crushed pistachios.

Once everything was ready,
we dined like royals,
served by Sibel and an assistant.

The conversation stirred our minds;
the meal cast a magic spell,
luring us back to Silk Road days
through touch and taste and smell.

Reading Lynn’s words reminded us why we do what we do.

A cooking class is never just about recipes. It is about opening a window into Turkish culture through food, sharing family traditions, discovering new flavours, making friends around the table, and creating memories that last long after the last bite.

We are deeply grateful to Lynn for giving us this beautiful gift and allowing us to share it with others.

If our guests leave Istanbul with recipes, we are happy.

If they leave with unforgettable memories, we are honoured.

And if one of those memories becomes a poem, we couldn’t ask for a greater compliment.

Thank you, Lynn. We hope our paths cross again one day in Istanbul.

 

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