Cenk Debensason

2nd – 6th April

Husband and wife duo Cenk Debensason and Debora Ipekel have made waves in Istanbul with the opening of Arkestra, thanks to Cenk’s bold, genre-defying cooking and the city’s first jazz-kissa inspired bar, overseen by Debora (ex-Boiler Room and NTS Radio). Just twelve months in, Arkestra was awarded its first Michelin star back in November.

Classically trained at the Institut Paul Bocuse, Cenk cut his teeth under French chef Alain Senderens, one of the founding fathers of nouvelle cuisine, and Gary Danko at his eponymous San Francisco restaurant. Every dish starts with a sketch and culminates with impressively plated results, a habit formed from Cenk’s time in Los Angeles where he established a sell out supper-club series: ‘The Cartoonist.’

For Cenk’s week with us, expect immaculate, inventive dishes like ‘duck breast, apicius sauce, daikon radish, ginger & apple chutney, dates’; ‘monkfish bouillabaisse, lemon couscous, fennel, saffron rouille’; and ‘white truffle & vanilla ice cream choux, chocolate sauce, shaved black truffle’. As the Michelin guide put it, “a visit to Arkestra is an experience you won’t soon forget”. Get ready.