I like Asia. You jump on a ferry, and bam, ten minutes later, there you are. Surrounded by sushi, wood block prints of ladies in kimonos, and if you have 20/20 vision you can see the Great Wall in the distance.
Not true, of course. The Anatolian side feels no different that the European one, save some of the tourists. We headed straight for the market, which is basically 5 square blocks dedicated to foodstuffs.
Near the ferry, fresh fish is grilled and sandwiched with parsley, lemon, lettuce and onions.
Fruit and vegetable stand. 1 of 100.
Fish-a-plenty. (and squid, sea urchin, crazy lobsters and more).
Spices, nuts, dried grapes, mulberries, plums...
At my new home away from home away from home, give or take; "Organik Bahce".
The store featured (many things, but) a variety of Greek and Turkish confections, that consist of assorted nuts, strung together, and dipped multiple times (think about making candles) in a fruit based syrup (pomegranate, mulberry, or grape). This creates a sweet and chewy case to house the nuts who rest inside. Very popular with school children and very good (for you).
One variation: pomegranate apricot syrup is studded with sesame seeds, pistachios and hazelnuts. This is the doner version because it is sliced in the same fashion as its meaty version.
Take two. Walnuts rolled up in grape-syrup skin are honeyed. And perfect. This syrup-skin is very hard to describe and unlike anything else I have enjoyed. Maybe like fruit leather? But not gross. Meaty. Not too sweet.
A favored drink back in the days of the Ottoman Empire.
Made from cinnamon, sugar and ginger, these brilliant red rocks are boiled till dissolution, creating a warm cup of spiced perfection. 'Drink like a Sultan, and you may just turn into one' (says Kemal Yetkin. Actually I just wish he said that and even more wish it was true). Apparently, this drink was used to celebrate pregnancy... Hopefully not this time around...
Dried fruit for any mood. Bananas, cantaloupe, kiwi, ginger, kumquats... Tossed in sugar and plumper and more flavorful than any dried fruit I have ever had.
Not pictured but most certainly purchased; rose hip butter (apple butter but better, you know why), sage tea, some lemony-herb tea (note to self--start writing things down) that smells outstanding (and a floral steeping mug to match!), pistachio filled grape-syrup triangles, french macaroons...
Unfortunately, my camera died, so I cannot report on dinner (chickpea/chicken/squash/chestnut soup with perfect rice and yeasty bread), the best grape leaves I've ever had, and a zillion more things that I can't wait to go back and try, like pickled corn on the cob. Old fashioned candy shops, and Turkish coffee spots, marzipan, yogurt, meats, cheeses, flat bread with parsley, lemon, spices... So this is only part 1 of so many.
Not true, of course. The Anatolian side feels no different that the European one, save some of the tourists. We headed straight for the market, which is basically 5 square blocks dedicated to foodstuffs.
Near the ferry, fresh fish is grilled and sandwiched with parsley, lemon, lettuce and onions.
Fruit and vegetable stand. 1 of 100.
Fish-a-plenty. (and squid, sea urchin, crazy lobsters and more).
Spices, nuts, dried grapes, mulberries, plums...
At my new home away from home away from home, give or take; "Organik Bahce".
The store featured (many things, but) a variety of Greek and Turkish confections, that consist of assorted nuts, strung together, and dipped multiple times (think about making candles) in a fruit based syrup (pomegranate, mulberry, or grape). This creates a sweet and chewy case to house the nuts who rest inside. Very popular with school children and very good (for you).
One variation: pomegranate apricot syrup is studded with sesame seeds, pistachios and hazelnuts. This is the doner version because it is sliced in the same fashion as its meaty version.
Take two. Walnuts rolled up in grape-syrup skin are honeyed. And perfect. This syrup-skin is very hard to describe and unlike anything else I have enjoyed. Maybe like fruit leather? But not gross. Meaty. Not too sweet.
A favored drink back in the days of the Ottoman Empire.
Made from cinnamon, sugar and ginger, these brilliant red rocks are boiled till dissolution, creating a warm cup of spiced perfection. 'Drink like a Sultan, and you may just turn into one' (says Kemal Yetkin. Actually I just wish he said that and even more wish it was true). Apparently, this drink was used to celebrate pregnancy... Hopefully not this time around...
Dried fruit for any mood. Bananas, cantaloupe, kiwi, ginger, kumquats... Tossed in sugar and plumper and more flavorful than any dried fruit I have ever had.
Not pictured but most certainly purchased; rose hip butter (apple butter but better, you know why), sage tea, some lemony-herb tea (note to self--start writing things down) that smells outstanding (and a floral steeping mug to match!), pistachio filled grape-syrup triangles, french macaroons...
Unfortunately, my camera died, so I cannot report on dinner (chickpea/chicken/squash/chestnut soup with perfect rice and yeasty bread), the best grape leaves I've ever had, and a zillion more things that I can't wait to go back and try, like pickled corn on the cob. Old fashioned candy shops, and Turkish coffee spots, marzipan, yogurt, meats, cheeses, flat bread with parsley, lemon, spices... So this is only part 1 of so many.
this all definitely beats my lunch at "Nature's Grill"- New "healthy food" style fast food-ish cafe, that has a ruddy-faced midget crankily beckoning uninterested cobble hill residents inside for sass-ily titled dishes such as "chop it" which I had the pleasure of...
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