Celebrated chef and author Yotam Ottolenghi on comfort food, home cooking and the Kiwi bakery

Known for helping introduce Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours to everyday home cooking, Yotam Ottolenghi popularised ingredients like sumac and molasses and developed a style so influential it became known as the Ottolenghi effect. His abundant approach to food, from generous salads to vibrant baked treats displayed in large bowls, helped reshape how many people think about flavour and presentation. Since opening his first deli in 2002, he has written nine bestselling cookbooks and built a global following. In our chat, he talks about what he is looking forward to eating in Aotearoa and reflects on how he feels about becoming a widely celebrated figure in the food world.