“Whenever I see baklava I remember my grandmother. Fun fact – growing up, my parents owned a Turkish restaurant in the marina of a small Australian town by the name of Nelson Bay. This is where my sister (Oddbird’s General Manager) and I grew up. Deep in the trenches with our parents, running a Turkish kitchen as a 5-person family.

While my mother was the head line-cook, my father was the host, my sister bussed tables, I whipped up a stellar coffees and my grandmother made deserts. Trays and trays of baklava lined our counters at home all summer long, and the sweet smell of cardamom (something only my grandmother would add) and honey permeated every childhood memory I can recall.

For me, baklava was always a little too sweet.. (almost a sacrilegious statement to make for any Turk), so when I thought of preparing Baklava for our Oddbird Recipes Series I knew exactly how to cut that sweetness will the flavor of Fall!

I don’t think Baklava has ever tasted this good, to be honest. The pumpkin whip was just the ticket! We hope you spend a cozy afternoon buttering and layering with us. The finished product is well worth it!”

– Ceren