Hi! Thank you for visiting Cooking Gorgeous. My name is Ayla, and I'm a professional chef based in the UK. The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy. I started this blog during the Covid-19 pandemic when I was not able to "work" in a professional kitchen. I decided that it is a great opportunity to shift my energy towards creating a platform where I can share my recipes with friends and family, and the world.
In Turkish culture, food is at the center of every gathering: religious holidays, birthdays, celebrations, funerals, and the list goes on. So, probably like many others, I love food. And not just the food itself, but also the process of preparing the food fascinated me from a very young age as my mom was an amazing cook and she dedicated most of her time to cook delicious food for our family and loved ones. To me, food is more than ingredients and nutrition; it is a language of love, a way of expressing compassion.
In 2008, I moved to London to study Culinary Arts at Le Cordon Bleu and worked as a chef in some of the most prestigious hotels in the world including Mandarin Oriental London and Rosewood London hotels.
I am currently living in the countryside with my husband in the middle of the woods, and apart from cooking, I enjoy sailing, going for long walks in the forest, and mushroom hunting (I am obsessed with mushrooms)! I also have a beautiful daughter who is my best friend and the person who encouraged me to create this blog.
All recipes in this blog are created by me and tested at least twice by myself, my husband, and friends&family before it goes up in this blog. I know how frustrating it is to put all the time and effort into a recipe and it just doesn't turn out right! In this blog, I hope to share my 13 years of professional expertise as well as 30 years of cooking experience in a clear and accurate way, and I promise good results as long as you follow the recipe diligently!
I hope you find some recipes in this blog that will bring joy to you and your loved ones. Please drop a comment if you try and enjoy the recipes and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!
Ayla xx