The Turkish create delectable street food that can nourish you during a day of exploring. It’s dining, for when you’re too inspired to sit down.
Simit
This could be described as a slimmer bagel. A delicious bread, often covered in poppy seeds, great for breakfast or brunch.
Gözleme
Popular across the globe, this is like a folded over pizza. All manner of luscious fillings, spices and cheese are enveloped in a thin dough and cooked to crispy perfection.
Midye Dolma
Spicy, cooked mussels served cold, stuffed with herbed rice and a zing of lemon juice. One half of the shell contains the mussel itself, while you use the other half of the shell as a spoon. Nature’s cutlery.
Döner kebabs
We are all familiar with the döner kebab, crafted from seasoned meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, then rolled into flatbread with sauces. Here in Türkiye, they are especially flavoursome. The bread is rubbed on the roaster beforehand to soak up extra spices and the vegetables are exceptionally fresh.
Ayran
A traditional drink made with yoghurt, water and salt. The perfect partner for spicy meats.
Baklava
These decadent delights are made from layers of crêpe paper thin pastry stuffed with pistachios and soaked in sugar syrup. The Turkish coffee’s best friend or perfect conclusion to any meal.
Türkiye’s second largest city lured me into a unique and vibrant montage of textiles, rich cuisine, culture and craft. The charm, warmth and deep creativity of Istanbul is etched into my soul forever. For a moment in time, I felt woven within its fabric.
Görüşmek üzere, from Türkiye, with love.
