Jul 01
Friday
Istanbul Eats on the Road: Putting the “Pit” Back into Pit Stop
When traveling by bus in Turkey, we tend to get anxious as the dinner hour approaches. As the bus downshifts, through the mesh shades we see a gleaming rest area/cafeteria/gas station/carwash facility specifically constructed for cross-country bus traffic. We feel trapped, robbed of the chance to eat at a local joint or at least of the right to strike out trying to find it. When you travel to eat, as we do, every meal matters – severely. A lengthy detour for something special is a welcomed part of our itinerary, if not the impetus for the trip. Most recently, while driving down the Ankara-Cankiri highway, we found just such a spot: the peculiarly named Baykus Bogazi, or “The Owl’s Throat,” a rest stop that will surely figure into future road trips.
It didn’t take a foodie detective to know that this place was the real thing. Continue…
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Quick Look
Recent Posts
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Osman’s Truck: Occupy Karakoy
no responses - Posted 02.06.12
We generally wouldn’t recommend pulling yourself up into the back of a broken down truck with no license plates that’s sitting in an empty lot down by the river, but Osman’s truck offers a rare glimpse of Istanbul if there really were no rules, and, not to mention, great views of the Golden Horn. In the back of Osman’s truck, with ... continue -
Join the 1st Kebab Krawl!
no responses - Posted 02.05.12
We're happy to announce that our inaugural Kebab Krawl, a guided group dinner in Istanbul's "Little Urfa" neighborhood, will roll out on Feb. 25. For more information on the Krawl, click here. For reservations, contact us at isteatswalks@gmail.com. continue -
Nuruosmaniye Koftecisi: Landmark Meatballs
no responses - Posted 01.31.12
In Istanbul, if all you have is a street address of a restaurant, you are as good as lost. It’s all about proximity to landmarks, as in Postanede’ki kokoreçci (the kokoreç vendor near the Post Office), Suleymaniyede’ki kurufasuliyeciler (the bean shops at Suleymaniye Mosque). This is the way we’ve learned to navigate this city and we’ve even found reason to ... continue -
Get Ready for the Kebab Krawl!
4 responses - Posted 01.23.12
It’s nighttime in Istanbul’s “Little Urfa.” Follow the wail of the Kurdish Frank Sinatra, Ibrahim Tatlises, blasting from a souped-up vintage Fiat. Puzzle over handwritten Arabic signs in the barbershop windows. Sample the essence of southeast Turkey in the spice shops selling the region’s fiery peppers. And, most of all, marinate in the fragrant smoke that comes from the countless ... continue -
If You Insist: Pandeli?
3 responses - Posted 01.11.12
Dear Istanbul Eats, I've heard and read so much about the historic Pandeli restaurant in Eminonu's Spice Bazaar, including that it's nothing more than an overpriced tourist trap. Have you been there recently? Is it worth going to? Concerned in Cincinnati Dear Concerned, Thanks for the great question. Pandeli is indeed a venerable spot and, for a certain generation of visitors to Istanbul, often ... continue -
Istanbul Eats Drinks: Yaşasın Sparkling Wine
no responses - Posted 01.06.12
(Editor’s Note: This post is part of our ongoing “wine chats” with sommelier and oenophile Serdar Kombe. Today he talks about a Turkish sparkling wine that’s actually worth talking about.) 1. A wine expert whose opinion we trust told us that "Turkish bubblies are positively undrinkable!!!" Is that the case? Is Turkey's terroir not suited for sparkling wines? Actually making good sparkling ... continue -
Best Bites of 2011: Our Take, Pt. 2
no responses - Posted 12.30.11
Merih Resturant This well-loved meyhane cum esnaf lokanta (Meykanta? Lokhane?), located near Beygolu’s Balik Pazar, presented one of the year’s great culinary mysteries. Namely: how that, despite being a decades-old neighborhood institution that’s located on a street we walk down on a regular basis, it took us until 2011 to actually notice it and step inside for a meal? Our overlooking ... continue
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Osman’s Truck: Occupy Karakoy
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All entries filed under this archive
Istanbul Eats on the Road: The Magic Meat of Keşan
2 responses - Posted 06.20.11
(Editor’s Note: This guest post comes courtesy of Salih Seckin Sevinc, author of the great Turkish-language food blog Harbi Yiyorum (loosely translated as “Eating, For Real”).) On my last two journeys to the Gallipoli region, I made sure to make a stop along the way for satır et (an awesome dish ...continue
2 responses - Posted 06.20.11
(Editor’s Note: This guest post comes courtesy of Salih Seckin Sevinc, author of the great Turkish-language food blog Harbi Yiyorum (loosely translated as “Eating, For Real”).) On my last two journeys to the Gallipoli region, I made sure to make a stop along the way for satır et (an awesome dish ...continue
The Boyoz Are Back in Town: A Sephardic Treat Returns to the Izmir Street
2 responses - Posted 03.07.11
(Editor's Note: Intrepid traveler and eater Sherri Cohen recently gave us the goods on the Tekirdag kofte scene. Today, once again on the road, she brings us news of the historic rebirth of an almost extinct street snack in Izmir.) The denizens of Izmir like to think of themselves as the ...continue
2 responses - Posted 03.07.11
(Editor's Note: Intrepid traveler and eater Sherri Cohen recently gave us the goods on the Tekirdag kofte scene. Today, once again on the road, she brings us news of the historic rebirth of an almost extinct street snack in Izmir.) The denizens of Izmir like to think of themselves as the ...continue
Lost in Thrace: Following the Tekirdağ Köftesi Trail
1 response - Posted 01.17.11
(Editor’s Note: This week, Istanbul Eats hops on the bus and heads west to sample the Thrace region’s most famous köfte in its native environment. Guest writers Sherri Cohen and Alex Hallowell, Fulbright English Teaching Assistants at Namık Kemal University in Tekirdağ, have run the gust-busting gauntlet to bring you ...continue
1 response - Posted 01.17.11
(Editor’s Note: This week, Istanbul Eats hops on the bus and heads west to sample the Thrace region’s most famous köfte in its native environment. Guest writers Sherri Cohen and Alex Hallowell, Fulbright English Teaching Assistants at Namık Kemal University in Tekirdağ, have run the gust-busting gauntlet to bring you ...continue
Discovering Turkey’s Land of the Pumpkin
no responses - Posted 10.18.10
With the arrival of fall, Today's Zaman goes exploring the rich culinary scene of Adapazari, an area not far from Istanbul that's famed for its pumpkins. As the article makes clear, though, Adapazari has much more to offer on the culinary front. The article can be found here. continue
no responses - Posted 10.18.10
With the arrival of fall, Today's Zaman goes exploring the rich culinary scene of Adapazari, an area not far from Istanbul that's famed for its pumpkins. As the article makes clear, though, Adapazari has much more to offer on the culinary front. The article can be found here. continue
Istanbul Eats on the Road: Gaziantep’s Sweet Dreams
no responses - Posted 10.15.10
(Editor’s Note: In Salih Seçkin Sevinç, creator of the fantastic Turkish-language food blog “Harbi Yiyorum” (roughly translated as “Eating For Real” in English), we’ve found a kindred spirit and a source for great eating tips. We’ve asked Salih to share with our readers some of his culinary wisdom this week. ...continue
no responses - Posted 10.15.10
(Editor’s Note: In Salih Seçkin Sevinç, creator of the fantastic Turkish-language food blog “Harbi Yiyorum” (roughly translated as “Eating For Real” in English), we’ve found a kindred spirit and a source for great eating tips. We’ve asked Salih to share with our readers some of his culinary wisdom this week. ...continue
Istanbul Eats on the Road: In Antep, It’s Never Too Early for Kebab and Baklava
3 responses - Posted 10.13.10
(Editor’s Note: In Salih Seçkin Sevinç, creator of the fantastic Turkish-language food blog “Harbi Yiyorum” (roughly translated as “Eating For Real” in English), we’ve found a kindred spirit and a source for great eating tips. We’ve asked Salih to share with our readers some of his culinary wisdom this week. This ...continue
3 responses - Posted 10.13.10
(Editor’s Note: In Salih Seçkin Sevinç, creator of the fantastic Turkish-language food blog “Harbi Yiyorum” (roughly translated as “Eating For Real” in English), we’ve found a kindred spirit and a source for great eating tips. We’ve asked Salih to share with our readers some of his culinary wisdom this week. This ...continue
Istanbul Eats on the Road: Eating For Real in Antep
4 responses - Posted 10.11.10
(Editor’s Note: In Salih Seçkin Sevinç, creator of the fantastic Turkish-language food blog “Harbi Yiyorum” (roughly translated as “Eating For Real” in English), we’ve found a kindred spirit and a source for great eating tips. We’ve asked Salih to share with our readers some of his culinary wisdom and we ...continue
4 responses - Posted 10.11.10
(Editor’s Note: In Salih Seçkin Sevinç, creator of the fantastic Turkish-language food blog “Harbi Yiyorum” (roughly translated as “Eating For Real” in English), we’ve found a kindred spirit and a source for great eating tips. We’ve asked Salih to share with our readers some of his culinary wisdom and we ...continue
Istanbul Eats on the Road: Viva Van Breakfast!
3 responses - Posted 09.24.10
For breakfast lovers, the experience of arriving in the eastern Turkish city of Van is akin to what a gambler might feel upon showing up in Las Vegas – overwhelmed by the options and the promise of a serious payout. Van, of course, is the home and birthplace of the monstrous ...continue
3 responses - Posted 09.24.10
For breakfast lovers, the experience of arriving in the eastern Turkish city of Van is akin to what a gambler might feel upon showing up in Las Vegas – overwhelmed by the options and the promise of a serious payout. Van, of course, is the home and birthplace of the monstrous ...continue
Istanbul Eats on the Road: Breakfast in Bursa
no responses - Posted 08.20.10
With all of the hype around Bursa’s claim to fame, the Iskender kebab, you’d think Bursans persisted on a diet of thinly sliced doner, pide, tomato sauce and frothy melted butter. But in between the spinning meat-sicles, the very icon of Turkish fast food, the markets of Bursa offer a ...continue
no responses - Posted 08.20.10
With all of the hype around Bursa’s claim to fame, the Iskender kebab, you’d think Bursans persisted on a diet of thinly sliced doner, pide, tomato sauce and frothy melted butter. But in between the spinning meat-sicles, the very icon of Turkish fast food, the markets of Bursa offer a ...continue
EatingAsia Hits Southeast Turkey!
2 responses - Posted 06.30.10
The folks behind EatingAsia, the web's most mouthwatering food blog, are in Turkey and recently made a long journey through the country's southeast region. The blog has several posts up reporting on their finds in the region and are well worth checking out. You can find EatingAsia here. continue
2 responses - Posted 06.30.10
The folks behind EatingAsia, the web's most mouthwatering food blog, are in Turkey and recently made a long journey through the country's southeast region. The blog has several posts up reporting on their finds in the region and are well worth checking out. You can find EatingAsia here. continue
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