HAND TO SOUL SERIES #2
OZGE KALVO
Introducing ILIO NEMA’s Hand to Soul series, a celebration of the human touch behind creativity, culture, and connection.
For the second chapter, we step into the kitchen with Ozge Kalvo, Head Chef at Olympus. Ozge’s world is led by ideas that arrive as flavours, moments and recollections of her grandmother’s cooking, where nourishment, craft and intuition meet.
HAND TO SOUL SERIES #2
Q: What is your creative process when cooking?
A: Generally I lead with the idea first. Sometimes an idea comes in my mind - it may be my grandmothers cooking, it may be a smell, or may be an ingredient. I generally don’t go straight in the kitchen, I'll think about it for a couple of days first. When I have a couple of ideas ready - I can even taste it in my mind - then I go and start to cook.
Q: How does your creative practice intertwine with your personal life?
A: Well, the thing is, cooking is my hobby as well. So on my days off people ask my what I do and I say I "cook". They ask do you do anything different and I say "not really". That’s my inspiration, that’s my hobby and that’s my job. And thank god my husband loves cooking as well and that I have a
beautiful kitchen to cook in.
HAND TO SOUL SERIES #2
Q: Could you tell us if its important to know where your ingredients come from?
A: Well, definitely! Especially for the guests - when they come in they want to know what they’re eating and they generally ask me the question. I want to also know what I’m cooking but I want to be able to answer their questions.
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Q: What is your specialty/ favourite food to cook?
A: It changes every day. I like to cook my orange dessert now because I am in the process of creating it but tomorrow it could be a salad I don’t know!
