Anastasia Zolotarev: An Evening with the Author

Join us for an evening with Anastasia Zolotarev to discuss her new cookbook, Sour Cherries and Sunflowers in-store at Gertrude & Alice. Anastasia will be providing some tasty treats from the book, including the delicious Babushka Zinaida's Honey Cake.

WHEN: Wednesday, 14th of May 2025, at Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore. Please arrive at 6:45pm for a prompt 7pm start.

TICKETS: 

Admission + Book: $70.00 (excluding external fees), includes admission for one, a copy of Sour Cherries and Sunflowers (RRP: $45.00), a glass of wine and some delicious samples from the book, cooked by Anastasia herself. 

Admission: $30.00 (excluding external fees), includes admission for one, a glass of wine and some delicious samples from the book, cooked by Anastasia herself. 

Explore Eastern European food culture and identity, through over 80 delicious, entirely achievable recipes.

About Sour Cherries & Sunflowers:

Food is grounding; it connects us to our past, moves with people across borders, and is ever evolving. Anastasia Zolotarev draws on her Ukrainian and Belarusian heritage and celebrates the food and flavours of Eastern Europe. Through the pages, she finds the balance between preserving tradition and sharing the evolution of her family’s recipes. 

Sour Cherries & Sunflowers celebrates culture and connection, with recipes to preserve and feed the soul. For slow mornings at home, there are Blueberry and Buckwheat Pancakes, whilst Pyrizhky and Varenyky dumpling recipes are shared with tales of family gatherings around the table. You’ll find open rye sandwiches and Blini for celebrations and special gatherings, everyday recipes like babka and borsch, as well as salads, preserves, and even desserts such as Honey, Walnut and Soured Cream Cake and Plum Rogaliki cookies.

About the Author:

Anastasia Zolotarev is an Eastern European-Australian recipe developer, food writer and creative in Sydney. Passionate about connecting food with community, she hosts intimate supper clubs and workshops where she teaches home cooks how to make piroshky, honey cake and other signature Eastern European recipes. She also runs sell-out fundraisers and initiatives to support Ukrainian organisations and charities. In 2016 she took part in Masterchef Australia and since then has regularly worked with brands such as Harris Farm and Hello Fresh.

About Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore

Rated as one of the top 10 bookstores in the world by National Geographic, Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore is an oasis for writers, readers, and coffee lovers. Books overflow from the shelves of their store, featuring a mix of new, second-hand, antiquarian and rare books. Stay a while & enjoy some homemade chai, and amazing coffee, and unearth a book treasure or two. Read more about the bookstore's story here, and about the real Gertrude & Alice here.