There were always two key reasons for visiting Turkey – One was the rich Ottoman history and second being the food. The latter holding more weightage than the former one. I have been a fan of Turkish food for long and is something which I can eat on any given day or time – a very safe bet. In “A Food Journey in Turkey” we explore the foods across this beautiful country unravelling the delicious Iskender kebab and unique locations like Galata bridge which serve the best of Turkish cuisine.
Our Turkish journey began at Cappadocia – however the food journey began much before. Turkish Airlines serves one of the best Lunch/Dinner that I have ever tasted in flight. What can beat being served Kebabs and Koftes mid-air and not to forget the freshly squeezed orange Juice. A very good welcome to the delights of Turkey.
Our first meal in Turkey was the lunch in Cappadocia and what an amazing start. We tried the Adana Kebab which was spicy meet ball kebabs on a skewer and a pot kebab dish called Testi Kebab ET – which was chopped beef, fresh tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, mushroom and some special ottoman sauce cooked in a pottery in a stone oven. It was served in sealed pot with a huge meat chopping knife – which was shocking! The knife is then used by the waiter to break open the clay pot at your table which is more ceremonial.
The food was simply amazing. I like Turkish hospitality – simple family run restaurants where food is served with a smile. And then you get served excellent Turkish bread and Tea on the house while you wait for the food along with various sides including hummus.
Over dinner we visited a very famous Goreme restaurant which was just a 10 minute stroll from our cave hotel. (Please leave a comment if you need more info about this hotel and I will get back to you)
This was a family run restaurant and gets quite packed over dinner. They have a large outdoor patio as well. They also provide a three course set meal and its here that I found my favorite beer till date – Efes.
We tried the Sactava Tavuk (Sac Tava) – which is Chicken, Tomato, Pepper, garlic served in a wok. Also tried the mixed grill and my favorite Turkish Kebab – Iskender Kebab – which is kind of doner kebab prepared from thinly cut grilled lamb basted with hot tomato sauce over pieces of pita bread and generously slathered with melted sheep butter and yogurt. This was quite a huge lunch — no complains we were in Turkey.
Even during our visit to the Ihlara valley (Click here), we were served excellent Meat balls kebab in a very scenic location midst the valley cliffs and the flowing river.
Istanbul has much in store for us w.r.t food, however, a must visit place while in Istanbul is the Galata Bridge. This place at the mouth of the Golden horn serves the famous Istanbul Fish sandwiches.They have boats bobbing in the river with their grills and fryers right in the boat serving the fish in the bread. These are basically fish fillets served over half a loaf of bread.
Also a must visit place is the restaurants below the Galata bridge. These offer a colorful procession of restaurants on the river which offers fresh catch and various other delicacies and you can have a hookah while you absorb so many things going around you.
Few more flavors of Istanbul –
It was an amazing Food Journey in Turkey — something which I still relish to this day. I would love to visit Turkey again — just for the food. 
Explore our Turkish Journey here – Click here
If you have any queries/feedback, leave me a comment below and I’ll get back to you at the earliest.
This is Aldrin and my partner Amoli. We bring you "Earths Pilgrim" - a unique insight into our travel escapades while leaving life in a cubicle. If you are looking for some inspiration to break the shackles of a regular life, then you are the right place. Read more about us- Click here.