Istanbul Eats
Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 5:24PM 
I have been putting off this post for a while now. Months in fact.
In early November I took my sister to Istanbul for her birthday. We had a fantastic, food-filled fling with a sexy city that never sleeps and both fell a little bit in love. I was so caught up in this short romance that I didn’t bother much with foreplay, I just wanted to dive right in.
This is a metaphorical apology for the seriously shocking photos that follow. I really ought to have pressed some of my cameras buttons… but I was too busy pressing my own.
If you are visiting Istanbul and you love food, I highly recommend buying a copy of Istanbul Eats, an English language guide to “the best undiscovered local eateries you might not always find on your own”. We lived by it and we weren’t disappointed.
Ciya
Friendly chefs at Ciya
Red pepper and walnut paste, hummous, celery yoghurt and stuffed aubergine
Celeriac stuffed with minced lamb, lentils and caramelised onion
Ciya Sofrasi – Güneslibahce Sokak 43, Kadiköy; +90 216 330 31 90; info@ciya.com.tr
Cooking Alaturka
Cooking lesson at Cooking Alaturka
Courgette fritters
Stuffed dried figs cooked in syrup
Cooking Alaturka – Akbiyik Caddesi 72a, Sultanahmet; +90 212 458 59 19; info@cookingalaturka.com
Çukur Meyhane
Spinach and cheese borek
Grilled anchovies
Çukur Meyhane – Kartal Sokak 1a, Beyoğlu; +90 212 244 55 75
Furreyya Galata
Awful photo. Fab calamari.
Fish dumplings with poached egg
Furreyya Galata – Serdar Ekrem Sokak 2b, Beyoğlu; +90 212 252 48 53
Gosleme
(Not sure what this restaurant was called. We were enticed by the lady in the window and the promise of fresh gosleme.)
Hafiz Mustafa
Baklava
Hafiz Mustafa – Hamidiye Caddesi 84, Bahçekapı Eminönü; +90 212 513 36 10
Kara Mehmet
Chicken beyti
Kara Mehmet – İç Cebeci Han 92, Grand Bazaar; +90 212 513 55 20
Köşkeroğlu
More baklava
Köşkeroğlu – Necatibey Caddesi/eski Gümrük Sokok 6, Karaköy; +90 212 249 63 40
Rumeli
More borek
Rumeli – Peykhane Caddesi 41/5, Sultanahmet; +90 212 516 48 80
Şimşek Karadeniz Pide Salonu
Quite possibly the best pide I have ever eaten
Şimşek Karadeniz Pide Salonu – Taksim Caddesi 8, Taksim; +90 212 249 46 42
Van Kahvaltı Evi
Full Turkish breakfast
Bal kaymak
Menemen
Van Kahvaltı Evi – Defterdar Yokuşu 52a, Cihangir, Beyoğlu; +90 212 293 64 37
Reader Comments (2)
yum yum yum yum yum!
I am pleased to say I was party to absolutely every one of those! OMG I want that pide in my belly right this very minute!
Hey Cha, it was so fun sharing the experience with you. Me too, that pide was divine!!