Irina Georgescu

2023 JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER IN THE BAKING CATEGORY Irina Georgescu is a UK food writer and author from Romania whose work draws on her Eastern European heritage. Her writing and recipes are a love letter to Romania, a country explored very little from the culinary point of view. She writes with integrity and respect towards this rich heritage, raising the profile of Romanian culinary identity through her books and culinary tours. Her first book, ‘Carpathia, food from the Heart of Romania’ was shortlisted by the UK Guild of Food Writers for the Best International Cookbook Award. At the same time, the German Culinary Academy awarded its German translation a Silver Feather. The book was also translated into Hungarian and Dutch. Her latest book, ‘Tava, Eastern European Baking and Desserts from Romania and Beyond’ is a meticulously researched baking book celebrating centuries of diversity and overlapping cultures that form today’s cuisine in Romania. Irina also aims to share the story of those dishes that have come to represent the identity of different cultural communities across the country. Irina was born in Bucharest, Romania, where she lived for 30 years before she moved to Wales, UK. Keep in touch with her through her website and social media.