Claudia Roden was born in Cairo, raised in London, and first published back in 1968. She studied art, but it was food that became her true canvas.
Her Arabesque (2005) is a journey through Turkey, Lebanon, and Morocco. Open its pages and you’re in the market streets — colours, smells, spices, and noise, all packed into recipes that speak of culture and history.
One dish that stands tall:
Roast Shoulder of Lamb with Couscous and Date Stuffing.
Slow-roasted lamb, couscous, sweet dates tucked inside. It’s generous. It’s layered. It feels like Middle Eastern hospitality at your own table.
But Arabesque isn’t just about cooking. It’s about memory, identity, and the way food connects people. Roden captured that — and it’s why this book still belongs on the shelf.
At Royal Nyborg Smokehouse, I believe the same: food is more than flavour. It’s craft, patience, and story — carried through generations.
From the Shelf: River Cottage MEAT
Royal Nyborg Smokehouse 