I am interested in this, also. We arrive on a Friday late afternoon/evening and I thought to perhaps take the Kebab Krawl the following night for an early introduction to Istanbul -- give me some basis for reference for the following two weeks.

But I don't know if that's a good plan or not.

We arrive early Sat am the 27th of October, I was thinking the same thing might be a fun way to kick off time in Istanbul. Wasn't sure if it was better to do the night or daytime walk. I only have 6 days

I am going to piggy back on this thread. This is on my to-do list for mid-sept turkey trip. I havent found anyone who has taken a culinary tour with Istanbul Eats, and like kmh7 mentioned they all sound interseting.
I even emailed them to get the differences and which one is (more)appropriate with a 15 month baby, but the reply contained the standard text available on their website.
Kebab Krawl would be great if you a true blue meat (esp. lamb) lover, and I think 'Culinary Secrets of the Old City" gives a wider choice including the baklava and other pastries from one of the best shops in istanbul.

Istanbul eats update, I have just booked the two continent tour with Istanbul eats. They do not tour on Sunday and are not touring on the 29th because of holiday. So we are going on the 30th. This tour isn't listed on their website but Ansel recommends it highly. It crisscrosses the bosphorus for eating in both European and Asian side. Sounds like fun, I will post review after we have recovered from the gluttony!!

Thanks for the update kmh7.
they still havent responded to my request for a tour on 16th. But I will send them another mail for booking for 17th considering they dont tour on sundays.
also, we were considering going to the asian side on our own to eat at Ciya Sifrasi (highly recommended restaurant). perhaps doing the Two Continents tour would be more comprehensive than the Culinary Secrets.

We're also taking the Two Continents tour. I think it's less popular, because we gave them a span of days and the Secrets tour was all booked up.

How long did it take to get a response from Istanbul Eats? I emailed a request two days ago and haven't yet gotten a response. But maybe this is normal for them? (Guess I like instant gratification )

Purdue, looking back at the email string, they got back to me within 24 hours.

Purdue,I heard from them in 24 hours as well. Then I had a question and heard within 12 hours. You may want to try again. Because we are there over holiday they couldn't get us in until the 30th of October but still looking forward to it.

shwets,
Having done the Istanbul Eats Old Town tour, I can tell you that I personally would rule out bringing along a 15-month-old child on that one. It was very hard navigating both the crowd and though pavements in areas, and the general progression of the tour is generally uphill over the three to four hours. In addition, many of the places that one eats in require more or less squeezing past people and objects. So strollers and kid backframes would not work well. Hope this helps.

I heard back from Ansel the morning after I asked the question above and have had regular correspondence since. We arrive on a Friday night, my thought was to take the Kebab Krawl the next night (Saturday), which would give us a day to recover our bearings and be an early introduction to Turkey. However, they don't do a KK on that Saturday night, and Ansel instead recommended the "Culinary Secrets of the Old City" which starts that Saturday at 9:30 AM and continues into the afternoon.

The owner of the apartment we're renting highly recommends IE, and this tour, so we've decided to do that -- might as well jump right in! We'll have been in Turkey for a whole 16 hours by then... Ansel tells me that we could probably wait until we're there to decide if we want to do a second one (the two continents one appeals -- but once we're there we can probably figure out much of this on our own) as there is still plenty of availability for October. I would assume that this holds for first-timers, too, unless they have a soft spot for repeat customers.

Purdue, I too thought about doing the same tour on that Saturday. Our problem is we are arriving in Istanbul via a sailing cruise early that morning and couldn't figure out what to do with our stuff and had some concern we would have a hard time getting there by 9:30. I would certainly rather "jump in" the way you are. Have a great tour. Kim

Thanks, Kim. We've found that going for the gusto (as it were) gets us integrated into wherever we're visiting prety quickly, and besides, what's a little jet lag when baklava is waiting?

Hope you have a great trip, too! I see that MinnBeef is just back and I'm anxious to hear about his adventures.

Purdue, I think we are there at the same time maybe we will run into each other in the streets. You have a good trip too We are staying at the Hotel Anemon Galata, All the books say it has the best terrace in the city. I am sure we will be there most nights over a glass of wine, join us if you are so inclined. Kim

Sorry for butting inbut just discovered a tiny baklava shop at Sirkeci, somewhat across from the entrance of Hocapasa street where we had stopped at Sehzade Cag Kebap for lunch, called Baklava Diyari, where they have their baklava flown in from Gaziantep daily.

We bought only about half kilo of the special square and the shredded wheat types and I managed to devour a goodly proportion despite my diabetes. Although it was not as good as that of Imam Cagdas at Gaziantep it seemed to be possibly better than Gulluoglu at Karakoy which I always thought was the best in Istanbul.

Just a note while watching the setting sun reflect on the window panes of Scutari from our balcony this lovely evening and listening to "Summertime Time Blues" by Eddie Cochran from my wife's collection of my nostalgic music pieces.

Will soon change my profile photo from starter fusion plate to a table set-up and then in a few days to a "view from balcony"

I am almost as excited about my trip to NYC and drive through foliage season to Niagara and thence to Chicago through Detroit as you are about your visit to this neck of woods.
Just changed most of our hotel reservations because of better deals through AARP and new special at Hertz. Must still get theatre tickets for Broadway, arrange to get a free meal from Aduchamp. have already bought two carpets, lots of spices and olive oil soaps as presents.

Kim, we arrive in Istanbul on October 19, and then have four nights in Sultanahmet, after which we go to Cappadocia for four nights. We then return to Istanbul on October 27 for five nights in Beyoglu, in an apartment on Turnacibasi. Google maps shows that to be about 1.3 km from your hotel, so we will definitely be in the same neighborhood!

OC, you have a wonderful trip, too. What Broadway show are you planning to see?
Becky

can you give me the web page for the Istanbul Eats? sounds very interesting.

sumplanner, its http://istanbuleats.com/. They also sell a little handbook of "best" out-of-the-way restaurants that has nice photos and descriptions.

OC, Enjoy your trip. Thank you for all you wonderful information it will certainly enrich our time in Istanbul. My DH will be excited to hear about baklava tip I have a feeling this won't be our last trip to Turkey.

Purdue, We arrive on the 27th as well for 6 days/5 nights. Would love to share a glass of wine with fellow fodorite if you are so inclined. Safe travels to all..Kim

Kim, I am sure DH and I would be so inclined. Would be the first time I've met another Fodorite! Sounds like a plan.

Five more weeks!
Becky

Thanks for your well wishes. Goes without saying that you have mine also and I think it is great that you can meet.

I am having problems with finding tickets for The Book of Mormon. Other musicals do not appear very exciting (I've already seen Chicago, Lion King, Phantom ) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf may be a let down after many viewings of the Liz Taylor-Burton film. However, I think we will be able to see Metamorphosis in Chicago. The plays at the Shaw festival at Niagara on the Lake all have bad reviews, so those are out.

I do not have too many Istanbul restaurant reviews on Trip Advisor but you may have some ideas if you check them.

The Book of Mormon is tough. It opens in Chicago in December and sold out through the spring in just a couple of weeks. And too bad that Porgy and Bess is closing soon; that would have been an excellent choice.

I would highly recommend Million Dollar Quartet at the Apollo Theater in Chicago if you have any interest in the early days of Rock and Roll (Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins). It's been extended about 10 times and it's usually possible to get tickets even on short notice. And there's a Lou Malnati's nearby, so you could have Chicago deep dish pizza, too!

Purdue/Becky, I am not sure how best to make a plan to meet. I have seen it done by fodorites in the past, but admit I am new to the fodor family date game. Our only firm plan at this point is the 30th IE tour. I am not sure how the holiday on the 29th will affect the city?? I think you said you were flying to Ephesus one of those days? Which day would would seem best to you and your DH? I think it will be great fun to swap travel experiences. Looking forward to it. Kim/kmh7

Kim, this is a first for me, too, so I don't know if there are any good "rules." I was looking at the FAQ to see if there's any way to privately communicate via the boards, but apparently not. I know that OC and Aduchamp have managed to connect several times, but don't know if they arranged it "in public" via the forum or some other way. Perhaps one of them can offer some advice.

We are returning to Istanbul on October 27, the day you arrive, I believe. We are visiting Ephesus on the 30th, the same day that you're eating! We then fly home on November 1. I don‘t know how the holiday (or if the holiday) will affect things, but that's just it, I don't know.

So, by process of elimination, it would seem that perhaps either the 28th or the 31st would be good choices? DH and are are looking forward to meeting, you, too!

Purdue, I think lets go 28th. I would love to hear from OC or Aduchamp about how to communicate off the thread. There must be a way?? We are looking forward to meeting you

The most private means of communicating are :

1.Give names and telephone numbers of hotels you are staying on these threads, but then you need to specify your Fodors name to the hotel reception in relation to your room.
2. become a member to Trip Advisor which provides the facility for personal messages between members.
3. To have separate mail adresses specifically for this type of communicaton utilizing names not related to your real name.(I have two which I have posted on these forums)

It just occured to me that you can also give the mobile number you have purchased in Turkey on this thread if you have bought one in Turkey.

Thank You OC, as always a wealth of information Hope your trip stateside is wonderful.
Purdue, I am on tripadvisor already under Heart2travel, lets talk there.

oops its Heart2travel07, see you on that forum

K, Kim, I'm on my way.

Thanks, OC! I knew that you would know.

Purdue / Kim,
Back from my awesome Turkey trip. Istanbul Eats tour was definitely one of the highlights. We would have never eaten at all these small eateries with fantastic food, really hole in the wall sorts without IE. We could not get Culinary Secrets and took the new 'Two Markets, Two Continents' tour. I have no way of comparing. But was really really happy with the tour and the guide and the pace. On our own, we wouldnt have spent the day exploring the asian side, so was glad the tour gave us an opportunity to do so. My baby proved to be a good sport as well.
But it is a lot of food, so dont have breakfast! Have fun.

Thanks for the update, shwets. It's good to get a first-hand recommendation. Your description of "hole in the wall" types of places is exactly what we're looking for.

I was happy with the reservation process (and the photo of the guide was a nice touch -- now we know who we're looking to meet up with), so hope that we have as good an experience as you did.

Thank you for the update shwets, My DH and I are doing the same tour. I am excited to go to places I would not have otherwise have found. Glad the baby cooperated Can't wait to see such a beautiful country!

We did the Old city tour with Amsel. We had a great time.

Will be taking the Old City tour this Monday, Oct 1st - Will report back. Some of the other choices were already booked for the dates we needed. DD and and I are looking forward to it and will take some of Shwets advice about pacing ourselves along the way.

jk1348, Can't wait to hear all about it. Keep us all posted...Kim

My daughter and I just returned from Istanbul and truly enjoyed the Old Cities tour with Istanbul Eats. There were 5 of plus "G" - he was terrific. We went back a found a few of the back alley places he had taken us to and even when back to pick up our Turkish Delight from the store he brought us to on our first day there. The book they give you was very useful and we consulted it many nights for places to go for both lunch and dinner. One disappointment was in Sofiyal 8 (I think it was) Extremely crowded - ok food but fairly rude service. He gave us a great suggestion for a wine bar up by the Galata Tower that was great fun with good wine and better mezes. It was called CenSus. Not too difficult to find once you get the lay of the land. Hope you enjoy.