
My name is Jocette but most people call me "Jo."
I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer, and recipe editor especially interested in food from Türkiye, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
After living in İstanbul and İzmir for more than six years, I am continually inspired by the foodways, gastronomy, and culture of Türkiye. In 2019, I married into a Turkish family that is just as obsessed with food. My Turkish family are farmers producing clementines, pomegranates, olives, plums, and more. They live next to the Aegean Sea on the southwestern coast of the country. As I continue to navigate the world through the lens of food, I realize the power of this tool to navigate culture and build deep connections, not just for me but for all of us.
In the past, I have collaborated with several journals, cookbook publications, art organizations, and online magazines like Tasting Table, Friday Arts Project, Table Magazine, and Yabangee.
Hasat, meaning ‘harvest’ in Turkish, features my recent food cravings and curiosities! If you want to continue to see how the story unfolds, stick with me and subscribe to my Hasat substack newsletter.
For business inquiries, speaking opportunities, collaborations, or if you just want to say hello, please send me an email at jocettemlee@gmail.com.







