Jernej Mlekuz Boeken

As simple as burek is a popular phrase used by many young people in Slovenia. In this book Jernej Mleku maintains that the truth is just the opposite. The burek is a pie made of pastry dough filled with various fillings that is well-known in the Balkans, and also in Turkey and the Near East by other names. Whether on the plate or as a cultural artifact, it is in fact, not that simple. After a brief stroll through its innocent history, Mleku focuses on the present state of the burek, after parasitical ideologies had attached themselves to it and poisoned its discourses. In Slovenia, the burek has become a loaded metaphor for the Balkans and immigrants from the republics of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Without the burek it would be equally difficult to consider the jargon of Slovenian youth, the imagined world of Slovenian chauvinism and the rhetorical arsenal of advertising agents when promoting healthy foods.

Exploring the cultural significance of burek, Jernej Mleku challenges the notion that it is simple. This beloved pastry, filled with diverse ingredients, serves as a lens to examine broader themes of identity and tradition in the Balkans, Turkey, and the Near East. Mleku delves into its culinary artistry and the deeper connections it fosters among people, illustrating how food can embody complex cultural narratives.