Turkey’s regional and seasonal cuisines
Apr 15th, 2012, 08:52 PM
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Turkey’s regional and seasonal cuisines
Hi again, all -
I’m looking forward to my upcoming trip to Turkey and to what I’m sure will be some delicious meals. I’ve read (and taken detailed notes on) some mouthwatering suggestions and descriptions, and suspect that some of you will have further ideas.
I welcome recommendations for seasonal and/or regional foods and dishes that I should counsider tasting or seeking during a trip that starts in early May and ends in early June and includes (in order) the following destinations:
• Ankara
• Bogazkale
• Goreme
• Guzelyurt
• Beysehir
• Antalya
• Cirali
• Kas
• Pamukkale
• Selcuk
• Iznik
• Bursa
• Istanbul
Restaurant recommendations are also welcome.
Thanks in advance!
I’m looking forward to my upcoming trip to Turkey and to what I’m sure will be some delicious meals. I’ve read (and taken detailed notes on) some mouthwatering suggestions and descriptions, and suspect that some of you will have further ideas.
I welcome recommendations for seasonal and/or regional foods and dishes that I should counsider tasting or seeking during a trip that starts in early May and ends in early June and includes (in order) the following destinations:
• Ankara
• Bogazkale
• Goreme
• Guzelyurt
• Beysehir
• Antalya
• Cirali
• Kas
• Pamukkale
• Selcuk
• Iznik
• Bursa
• Istanbul
Restaurant recommendations are also welcome.
Thanks in advance!
Apr 15th, 2012, 11:19 PM
#2
KJA, here is an intro :
Ankara: It is a very large city with mostly good kebap restaurants. Not a place for seafood or modern eclectic or fusion cooking.
Bogazkale : Unfortunately for people with limited budgets. Nearby city Corum has a terrific dish called "Iskilip Dolmasi". Try the great northern white beans with rice pilav on the side as the local staple at any restaurant.
Cappadocia region : Many good restaurants. Try gozleme, manti, borek, pastirma among other thngs.
Antalya : Large city with some decent but expensive restaurants at Kale ici old town. Fish is available but expensive. stick with small plates of starters at the fish restaurants called "meze" Grouper will be good, if you can negotiate a good price.
Kas : Has good bohemian restaurants with their own special dishes. (my trip report gives name of one if I remember correctly) if you can find them. Otherwise the fish restaurants like the ones at Antalya. If you take a private boat to kekova, see if you can get the boatman to harpoon and grill some fish for you during the cruise. (what we did as in our report)
Cirali : Best meal at Canada Hotel prepared by the owner Saban as far as I know, but have not eaten at all restaurants.
Pamukkale : We never had a meal we liked there since 1979, but you may be lucky.
selcuk : Hotels Bella or Nazhan or at Sirince for the local wild greens and delicious regional salads, cheeses, etc.
Almost all larger restaurants geared to mass production for tour groups. So avoid large, avoid tour groups. avoid groups with guides.
Iznik : Few restaurants. "Kofteci Yusuf" has excellent and very good priced grilled meat balls. You should get "piyaz" (pee-yuzz) on the side. You can also take a cab to Darka and eat at our restaurant on the lake for the ambiance and the landscape. Ali Nazik kebap, chop shish, and all starters are recommended. (give my name without the "other" and the number 413 at the security at the gate)
Bursa : It is a large city where the original Iskender Kebap originated. Nowadays, this excellent dish has deteriorated except at certain locations, so I hope you can find a good one. Otherwise you are stuck with the standard fare.
Ankara: It is a very large city with mostly good kebap restaurants. Not a place for seafood or modern eclectic or fusion cooking.
Bogazkale : Unfortunately for people with limited budgets. Nearby city Corum has a terrific dish called "Iskilip Dolmasi". Try the great northern white beans with rice pilav on the side as the local staple at any restaurant.
Cappadocia region : Many good restaurants. Try gozleme, manti, borek, pastirma among other thngs.
Antalya : Large city with some decent but expensive restaurants at Kale ici old town. Fish is available but expensive. stick with small plates of starters at the fish restaurants called "meze" Grouper will be good, if you can negotiate a good price.
Kas : Has good bohemian restaurants with their own special dishes. (my trip report gives name of one if I remember correctly) if you can find them. Otherwise the fish restaurants like the ones at Antalya. If you take a private boat to kekova, see if you can get the boatman to harpoon and grill some fish for you during the cruise. (what we did as in our report)
Cirali : Best meal at Canada Hotel prepared by the owner Saban as far as I know, but have not eaten at all restaurants.
Pamukkale : We never had a meal we liked there since 1979, but you may be lucky.
selcuk : Hotels Bella or Nazhan or at Sirince for the local wild greens and delicious regional salads, cheeses, etc.
Almost all larger restaurants geared to mass production for tour groups. So avoid large, avoid tour groups. avoid groups with guides.
Iznik : Few restaurants. "Kofteci Yusuf" has excellent and very good priced grilled meat balls. You should get "piyaz" (pee-yuzz) on the side. You can also take a cab to Darka and eat at our restaurant on the lake for the ambiance and the landscape. Ali Nazik kebap, chop shish, and all starters are recommended. (give my name without the "other" and the number 413 at the security at the gate)
Bursa : It is a large city where the original Iskender Kebap originated. Nowadays, this excellent dish has deteriorated except at certain locations, so I hope you can find a good one. Otherwise you are stuck with the standard fare.
Apr 16th, 2012, 05:49 PM
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No problem mohan - I'll be interested to hear what others have to say! I have Joan Peterson's Eat Smart in Turkey, which looks like it has a decent Turkish-to_English section. But I haven't tested it yet....
Apr 16th, 2012, 11:55 PM
#7
I am sorry for my lack of info on dictionaries.
Traditionally the best Turkish-English-Turkish dictionary has been Redhouse. I believe they had a pocket addition also, but do not know hat is available these days.
Traditionally the best Turkish-English-Turkish dictionary has been Redhouse. I believe they had a pocket addition also, but do not know hat is available these days.
Apr 17th, 2012, 07:43 AM
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kja, I'll try to find that book.
I am not going to Fethye but the following website has loads of info from a different point of view. http://www.turkeysforlife.com/p/feth...-drinking.html
otherchelebi, thank you for responding. I have learn so much from your post.
I laughed when i read your post on eating fish in Turkey. That's how I eat fish too and I don't mind looking into the lovely eyes of my fish. The best part is the cheeks and behind the eyes. I love chewing bones which isn't always appropriate in the Westerm cultures.
By the way, do you approve of the recommendations in http://istanbuleats.com/?
I am not going to Fethye but the following website has loads of info from a different point of view. http://www.turkeysforlife.com/p/feth...-drinking.html
otherchelebi, thank you for responding. I have learn so much from your post.
I laughed when i read your post on eating fish in Turkey. That's how I eat fish too and I don't mind looking into the lovely eyes of my fish. The best part is the cheeks and behind the eyes. I love chewing bones which isn't always appropriate in the Westerm cultures.
By the way, do you approve of the recommendations in http://istanbuleats.com/?
Apr 20th, 2012, 09:59 AM
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Kja, did you see this?
http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/gui.../overview.html
http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/gui.../overview.html
Apr 20th, 2012, 11:14 AM
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Apr 20th, 2012, 01:53 PM
#12
The second reference seems to be an advertisement for a tour operator and lists various institutions they deal with.
The New York information also depends heavily on limited perceptions based on short visits by tourists and misinformation in some cases and good PR by some locations in other cases.
Some of the mentioned restaurants and hotels are fine but others are not as good as they are made to appear.
Trip Advisor has a number of posters who are commercially related to some of the hotels and restaurants in istanbul as well as websites and travel agents, tour operators, etc. who successfully have been pushing their clients to the top of various charts in the past few years.
Travel writers are also influenced by local colleagues who have their own favorites and agendas.
Then there are people like me who think they know best and look down upon everyone else. LOL.
So, It is a tough choice.
The New York information also depends heavily on limited perceptions based on short visits by tourists and misinformation in some cases and good PR by some locations in other cases.
Some of the mentioned restaurants and hotels are fine but others are not as good as they are made to appear.
Trip Advisor has a number of posters who are commercially related to some of the hotels and restaurants in istanbul as well as websites and travel agents, tour operators, etc. who successfully have been pushing their clients to the top of various charts in the past few years.
Travel writers are also influenced by local colleagues who have their own favorites and agendas.
Then there are people like me who think they know best and look down upon everyone else. LOL.
So, It is a tough choice.
Apr 20th, 2012, 04:26 PM
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Thanks, mohan - I appreciate the links!
And thanks, other, for your insights into them.
It seems to me that part of researching anything is separating the "wheat from the chaff" - even if every bit of information was completely accurate when written, times change and people's tastes differ.
My current best guess is that I'll end up at a mix of restaurants, from budget to splurge, local to tourist-oriented, meets-my-needs to truly memorable.... I'm sure I'll taste some variants on familiar dishes, and hope to taste some things that I'm less likely to find at home.
The very good news, if I've read correctly, is that I'm likely to encounter some wonderfully fresh foods. That definitely sounds appealing!
And thanks, other, for your insights into them.
It seems to me that part of researching anything is separating the "wheat from the chaff" - even if every bit of information was completely accurate when written, times change and people's tastes differ.
My current best guess is that I'll end up at a mix of restaurants, from budget to splurge, local to tourist-oriented, meets-my-needs to truly memorable.... I'm sure I'll taste some variants on familiar dishes, and hope to taste some things that I'm less likely to find at home.
The very good news, if I've read correctly, is that I'm likely to encounter some wonderfully fresh foods. That definitely sounds appealing!
Apr 22nd, 2012, 11:50 AM
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Thank otherchelebi for the insider's info. In my humble opinion, TA should weed out those posters.
kja, separating the "wheat from the chaff" is right except it is not exactly easy. We also do a mix of restaurants when we travel, from budget to splurge, hopefully more local than tourist-oriented.
Plan is one thing and reality is another. Istanbul being as interesting as it is and so much to see, we probably don't have time to go out of our way to a restaurant or sit for a loooooong dinner. At this point, I am INFORMATION OVERLOAD. The only realistic plan I have is to go with the flow.
kja, separating the "wheat from the chaff" is right except it is not exactly easy. We also do a mix of restaurants when we travel, from budget to splurge, hopefully more local than tourist-oriented.
Plan is one thing and reality is another. Istanbul being as interesting as it is and so much to see, we probably don't have time to go out of our way to a restaurant or sit for a loooooong dinner. At this point, I am INFORMATION OVERLOAD. The only realistic plan I have is to go with the flow.
May 8th, 2012, 07:41 AM
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Kja:
Hope you're having a great experience in Turkey...just a reminder that Syd's summer tour begins in early June..the closest to you will be in Frederick MD..hope you can make it..he enjoyed meeting with you in DC...enjoy Turkey..whatta country! If it's not too late, if you're driving past Aydin (between Pamukkale and Ephesus)..stop by the "Skewer Roadside Cafe"(look for Pepsi on the sign..right hand side of the highway when coming from Pamukk) for the best in kebabs...the waiter will present a delicious plate with a heap of little skewers ..later he will count the empty ones, hence the bill! Fun place...Stu Tower
<b>HOTELS and HIGHWAYS:</b>
June 30, 2012
Cafe NOLA // Frederick, MD
<i>Details
East Coast Summer Tour w/ Mia Dyson and Special Guests
8:00 pm, All Ages
This venue was a magical surprise when we first played here last year. We can't wait to return and join our friends Old Liners in their hometown.</i>
Hope you're having a great experience in Turkey...just a reminder that Syd's summer tour begins in early June..the closest to you will be in Frederick MD..hope you can make it..he enjoyed meeting with you in DC...enjoy Turkey..whatta country! If it's not too late, if you're driving past Aydin (between Pamukkale and Ephesus)..stop by the "Skewer Roadside Cafe"(look for Pepsi on the sign..right hand side of the highway when coming from Pamukk) for the best in kebabs...the waiter will present a delicious plate with a heap of little skewers ..later he will count the empty ones, hence the bill! Fun place...Stu Tower
<b>HOTELS and HIGHWAYS:</b>
June 30, 2012
Cafe NOLA // Frederick, MD
<i>Details
East Coast Summer Tour w/ Mia Dyson and Special Guests
8:00 pm, All Ages
This venue was a magical surprise when we first played here last year. We can't wait to return and join our friends Old Liners in their hometown.</i>
May 8th, 2012, 12:26 PM
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Hi again Kja...noticed in your post that you may have already left (early May)..but in case you have a laptop with you, you might get some ideas from these updated scanned pix covering many of the places where you'll be visiting.
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...cenesOfTurkey#
stu (I will include Istanbul in the next post)
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...cenesOfTurkey#
stu (I will include Istanbul in the next post)
May 8th, 2012, 12:29 PM
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Kja...as promised, I dug out the Istanbul portions..
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...nesOfIstanbul#
stu
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...nesOfIstanbul#
stu
May 8th, 2012, 07:27 PM
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Stu, you are gem!
I don't know if I'll be able to get to Frederick for Hotels & Highways, but I've marked it on my calendar and know I will enjoy hearing them again if I can get there.
And thanks so much for sharing your newly scanned pics! I didn't think anything could make me even more eager for my upcoming experience than I already was, but you have proven the error of my thinking. Did you take the picture of the end of the Bosphorus from above Anadolu? Wow! Now I know what I'll do with that long stop there! (I had been thinking of getting off the ferry a stop earlier and taking the bus back. What I would have missed!)
I wonder whether that "American Girl on Turquoise Coast" ever realized that you were following her. She didn't seem to mind....
Again, thanks so much! I leave soon and will raise a glass to you at least once along the way, perhaps at Skewers if I find myself in the area and most certainly at the Pierre Loti Cafe when the calls of the muezzin begin.
I don't know if I'll be able to get to Frederick for Hotels & Highways, but I've marked it on my calendar and know I will enjoy hearing them again if I can get there.
And thanks so much for sharing your newly scanned pics! I didn't think anything could make me even more eager for my upcoming experience than I already was, but you have proven the error of my thinking. Did you take the picture of the end of the Bosphorus from above Anadolu? Wow! Now I know what I'll do with that long stop there! (I had been thinking of getting off the ferry a stop earlier and taking the bus back. What I would have missed!)
I wonder whether that "American Girl on Turquoise Coast" ever realized that you were following her. She didn't seem to mind....
Again, thanks so much! I leave soon and will raise a glass to you at least once along the way, perhaps at Skewers if I find myself in the area and most certainly at the Pierre Loti Cafe when the calls of the muezzin begin.
May 8th, 2012, 07:35 PM
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kja:
Happy to catch you before embarkatoi..you'll enjoy every mile of Turkey...yes, Pierre Loti is an experience. And yes, I climbed the hill to the ruins in Anadolu..not a very long walk from the ferry dock...while there you will certainly have an opportunity to "shoot" the entrance to the Black Sea. (Well worth the stop in Anadolu Kavagi).
Bon Voyage, kja!
Stu
Happy to catch you before embarkatoi..you'll enjoy every mile of Turkey...yes, Pierre Loti is an experience. And yes, I climbed the hill to the ruins in Anadolu..not a very long walk from the ferry dock...while there you will certainly have an opportunity to "shoot" the entrance to the Black Sea. (Well worth the stop in Anadolu Kavagi).
Bon Voyage, kja!
Stu
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