Zahter chef and founder Esra Muslu has died

The Staff Canteen

Editor

Tributes have been made for Esra Muslu, the chef behind London restaurant Zahter, following the announcement of her death.

Confirming the news, a post on Zahter's Instagram page confirmed the news and paid tribute to the chef.

The post read: "Today, we mourn the passing of Esra, the visionary founder and head chef of Zahter restaurant. Her vibrant spirit and unwavering positivity touched us all,"

It added: "With heavy hearts, we share the news of her peaceful departure this morning. Her legacy will forever live on in our hearts. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to her family and friends during this difficult time."

Esra moved to London from Turkey at the age of 18 before leaving to complete a degree in culinary arts at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.

The chef opened her first restaurant Moreish in Istanbul in 2007, before eventually launching six further sites in the Turkish capital.

After working as head chef in Soho House Istanbul, Esra returned to London to cook at Shoreditch House before joining Yotam Ottolenghi's Ottolenghi Spitalfields as head chef.

Known for her talents as a chef, Esra's first London venture, Zahter, opened on Carnaby Street at the end of 2021 with Muslu leading the kitchen and her sister Yasemin Efe overseeing front of house.

Inspired by Instanbul's diverse culinary offering, Zahter served Turkish cuisine and was listed in the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2023.

Zahter received a rave review from The Observer's critic Jay Rayner, who said it served "quite simply the best baklava I have ever eaten".

Paying tribute to the chef on Twitter, Jay Rayner said: "This is very sad. Esra Muslu was a brilliant chef and a very lovely person who in Zahter, created something special. She welcomed me into her kitchen earlier this year and taught me so very much. My thoughts are with her family and the community of cooks with whom she worked."

Echoing his thought's, Hrishikesh Desai, chef patron at Farlam Hall in Brampton, wrote: "Sad news to read about Esra who has left us so early. Zahter is a well-known restaurant and credit goes to the team but also to Esra who had a vision for the restaurant. From the entire team Farlam Hall, we would like to extend our condolences to Esra's family, friends and staff in this sad time."

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