Welcome to my website! If you’ve found your way here, it’s probably because you love cooking. Me too! On my site I explore Mediterranean cuisine and culture, Jewish recipes, food history, and more. I am passionate about sharing authentic, flavorful recipes with you.
How it began
I was introduced to global cuisine by my grandparents, Lois and Clarence Avey, who spent the 1970’s traveling the Mediterranean in a VW camper bus with a kerosene-fueled kitchenette.
My grandparents traveled to dozens of countries in their lifetime, including places far from the beaten path. And they always came back from their travels ready to recreate the dishes they had sampled on their journeys. It was in my Grandma’s kitchen that I first tasted Italian pesto, Moroccan couscous, and Spanish gazpacho.
Then I met my husband, who was born in Israel on the shores of the Mediterranean, and this part of the world became like a second home for us. We traveled in my grandparents footsteps. I saw the places they’d been, tasted the flavors they had enjoyed… and learned a lot about Mediterranean food and Jewish cuisine. A seed was planted, which eventually led to me start this food blog. It’s been an exciting culinary journey so far, and there is so much more to come.
What to Expect
On my site you’ll see mostly Mediterranean, pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan recipes. You’ll also notice a number of Jewish recipes on the site.
Many of those dishes were collected in Israel, where my husband was born on the shores of the Mediterranean. His background is half Sephardic, half Ashkenazi, so you’ll find both of those culinary influences on my site.
You will also find several recipes here that were developed in my home kitchen, channeling what I have learned about Mediterranean cooking into exciting new flavor combinations. For those seeking recipes for special dietary concerns, check out my special diets section.
Cooking is a way of communicating
I believe the energy we pass on through our cooking feeds the body as well as the soul. Consider this our shared virtual culinary classroom; a place where we learn not only how to cook delicious food, but how that food came to be in the first place.
Knowing the story behind the food… the ancient history, or the family history, or even the history of one particular ingredient… can infuse a dish with meaning. And then a meal becomes more than just food, or something that fills you up physically. Food takes on a deeper significance, and ultimately becomes more nourishing.
The recipes in this collection are continually tested and refined by a community of engaged food lovers. I never post a recipe that I didn’t really enjoy eating– it has to taste great to make it onto my site. If it’s not something I’ve created myself, the source will be credited in the blog. I regularly read comments from readers (though I don’t always have time to answer!), and will often re-test and refine recipes based on feedback from the community.
Connect
I invite you to subscribe to my website for seasonal recipe updates and the latest posts. You can also friend me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. I love hearing from my cooking friends, and I am so pleased you are here and part of our growing cooking community.
All content (photographs, writing, and graphics) on this website is copyright protected, and cannot be used without my permission. If you would like to request permission, please contact my team.
ToriAvey.com Management Team
Tori Avey – Founder, Managing Partner
Erdolo Eromo, MBA – Managing Partner
Shuki Levy – Managing Partner
Dr. Tamara Levy Eromo – Managing Partner
Mediterranean cuisine that sparkles in a California kitchen! Olives, citrus, chickpeas, sesame, lean proteins, wine, laughter, life… these are the ingredients that Tori Avey uses… feels like you’re cooking alongside a friend.
– Michael Twitty, James Beard Award-winning author of The Cooking Gene
Tori Avey weaves delectable tales with delicious recipes to create the perfect balance of wit, wisdom, and wonderment. She brings our culinary history to life and inspires our modern day kitchens with her timeless recipes. Every morsel is delicious!
-Mark Dacascos, The Chairman – Iron Chef America
Tori Avey has quickly become one of my very favorite food personalities on the web. She has made me appreciate the history of the foods we eat, and has inspired me to branch out beyond my culinary comfort zone. I absolutely love what she does.
-Ree Drummond, #1 NYT Bestselling Author of The Pioneer Woman Cooks