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Sesame seeds have been part of my story for as long as I can remember—from the lively bakeries of Istanbul to the warm ovens of my café here in Emeryville. As both a historian and an immigrant, I see sesame as more than an ingredient. It is a bridge between cultures, faiths, and generations. Each seed holds a memory, a piece of history, and a flavor that connects us across time and place. A Seed Older Than History Sesame is one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops. Archaeol

Chef Hatice as a child, enjoying her favorite lunch: fried köfte, fries, and homemade ayran/yogurt drink.

I grew up in Gelibolu , a town on the Dardanelles where East meets West . Life there has always been shaped by both the Ottoman legacy...