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Archive for February, 2011

Feb 28
Monday

Mohti: All That Laz

Filed under Reviews (Eats)


(Editor’s note, 2015: We’re sorry to report that Mohti has permanently closed.)

“My heart starts pounding when a pregnant lady enters the room,” said Hüseyin, the artist turned owner/operator of Mohti, a new “Laz Meyhane” in the back of the backstreets of the Asmalımescit area. While this might sound to some like the unsavory confession of a man with an exotic fetish, to us it was a breath of fresh air, redolent with the old-style charm of a classic meyhane patron, something that’s increasingly harder to come across these days.

There was a time when every meyhane around here had a true character at the helm, someone who knew how to work the crowd, comp a drink and indulge in the art of hospitality every night. Now, sadly, as Asmalımescit and other traditional dining zones go upmarket, the only trace of that old-school proprietorship is found in yellowed photos on wall.  In this context, Hüseyin – a boisterous host in an exceedingly sterile market – is almost as odd a fit as Mohti’s concept: thoroughly home-style Black Sea cooking in a meyhane setting. Continue…

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All entries filed under this archive


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2 responses - Posted 02.25.11
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Mehmet Demir’s Breakfast Cart: The Wheel Deal
6 responses - Posted 02.21.11
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Since You Asked: High-End Istanbul?
1 response - Posted 02.18.11
Dear Istanbul Eats, Köfte, kebab. Köfte, kebab. Köfte, kebab. I understand the appeal of a good-value lunch or dinner, but do you guys ever go out for a splurge? Any advice for those of us who like to live high on the lamb? Big Spender in Brussels Dear Spender, Guilty as charged. We do ...continue
The Bazaar Bag: Just Tote It
4 responses - Posted 02.16.11
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Durak Lokantası: Goodbye Ikea Köfte
no responses - Posted 02.14.11
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Istanbul Eats Drinks: Kavaklıdere Narince 2008
4 responses - Posted 02.11.11
(Editor's Note: We’ve recently been lucky enough to make the acquaintance of Serdar Kombe, one of Turkey’s leading oenophiles. These are exciting times for Turkish wine and Serdar has generously agreed to start a guest column for us about the subject. In his first review for us, he takes a ...continue
Istanbul Eats Drinks: Turkish Wine, Explained
4 responses - Posted 02.10.11
(Editor’s Note: We’ve recently been lucky enough to make the acquaintance of Serdar Kombe, one of Turkey’s leading oenophiles. These are exciting times for Turkish wine and Serdar has generously agreed to start a guest column for us about the subject. Today we are running a brief primer by Serdar ...continue
Rumeli Tatlı ve Börek Evi: Less Is More
6 responses - Posted 02.07.11
(Editor's Note: This guest post was written by "Meliz," an intrepid explorer of Sultanahmet's culinary backstreets who would like to keep her anonymity.) There is a quiet grace in doing one thing, but doing it very well. Or, maybe, two things. Like, say, börek and baklava. This is what distinguishes Rumeli, a tiny ...continue
Istanbul Eats Cooks: Zübeyir’s Gavurdağı Salatası
2 responses - Posted 02.04.11
By collecting recipes from our favorite places around town and attempting them in our own kitchen, we’ve figured out one of the best-kept secrets of the Turkish kitchen – namely, that fresh, local produce and a lot of love go a long way. In the case of Zübeyir’s Gavurdağı Salatası ...continue
Radikal Reads Between the Buns
1 response - Posted 02.02.11
In the past, we’ve commented on the proliferation of burger joints in Istanbul. In our opinion, Kızılkayalar's "wet burger" is still the best in show because of its unbeatable combination of taste and value. But the buzz around Istanbul’s gourmet burger wars continues with a recent roundup featured in the ...continue

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