Anatolian Tales Dinner Series by Giza & Jerome

It was a cold, grey, and deeply melancholic Berlin day. I found myself walking through Prenzlauer Berg when I stopped in front of a tiny wine shop, its windows glowing with candlelight, its walls echoing with bursts of laughter. In that moment, I felt something: I needed to step inside, I needed to meet the people who carried that warmth.

Inside was not just wine, but Jérôme, our dear friend, wine expert, and trader whose energy could light up the darkest afternoon. That was the beginning of Anatolian Tales.

Just 27 weeks ago, in February 2025, we hosted the very first dinner of this series in Jérôme’s wine cellar. It was an intimate evening for only ten guests, where my carefully curated Anatolian menu met Jérôme’s pairings of French and Spanish wines. Together, we created a one-of-a-kind table where cultures intertwined.

Our guests that night came from France, Spain, the UK, Denmark, Germany, Ghana, and beyond. They tasted Anatolia in every bite! Kısır wrapped in vine leaves, homemade irmik helvası with its beloved story, and traditional Kayseri-style mantı, hand-rolled just like in a mother’s kitchen. Dishes that many might pass by on the street revealed their true beauty here, and strangers quickly became friends over laughter, games, and stories.

Since that first gathering, Anatolian Tales has continued to grow. The menus expanded, the community widened, yet the magic of that small table remained, the closeness, the conversations, and the joy of discovering flavors together.

Guest Kitchen creates every table in a new location with a new concept. But because this series was one of the first, hosted by me and Jerome with so much love, it will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Best, Giza