Friday, February 20, 2015

Food in Istanbul

It's become clear that all the moaning I did about the weather in Istanbul last week was unwarranted.  Look at Istanbul now:



Last week today, we were standing right there.  It may have been cloudy and rainy, but it didn't shut down the airport at all and I didn't fear slipping my way down cobblestone streets.  Thank you Weather Gods.  Though admittedly my photos would have turned out prettier with snow instead of gray haze.

While in Istanbul we ate quite well.  TripAdvisor is a wonderful thing as we discovered that three of the highest rated restaurants in Istanbul were next door or across from our hotel.


Seriously.  I want to eat from these dishes All The Time.  Who wouldn't??  The restaurant is the Babylonia Garden and Terrace (#31) and had a fireplace.  Unfortunately the fireplace was right by the door, so the warmth was regularly replaced with a draft.


And what was under the cover was just as wonderful as the dish. Chicken over pureed eggplant.


TripAdvisor recommended the pumpkin desert.  I do not.  Chunks of raw pumpkin, frozen, and soaked in a sweetener with pistachio crumbles, along with a tahini sauce and a molasses sauce.  Unless that sounds awesome to you, give it a pass.


Wandering the streets one day, we bought a bagel-like bread spread with Nutella.  Nutella makes everything delicious.


That night we ate off more beautiful dishes with great food.  Albura Kathisma (#66) had mood lightening and an awesome selection of seafood.  My meal of monk fish and Ian's of giant prawns...



Our friends went for the house specialty, a meal cooked in a clay pot over a fire, broken open and served right at the table.


With, of course, dessert of chocolate souffle and ice cream.  Because even though I couldn't finish my pile of monk fish, there's always room for dessert.


What really makes the restaurant great is that, like Amman, you can't dig anywhere in Istanbul without hitting ancient ruins.


Part of the restaurant has a glass floor....


...and the ruins are remarkable.  It's a slow process unearthing the rooms and arches, but worth seeing if you have the opportunity to pop down for a visit.

18 comments:

  1. I may have to find that restaurant -- just to see the ruins below! How cool!! Sounds like you got a nice start into your Turkish culinary tour :) That bagel bread is called simit and is a staple here. You can also get them with Turkish white cheese in the middle. YUM! I will miss the simit when we go.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Have you browsed online for baked comfort food ideas lately? Not all of the latest and greatest cake designs are complicated. Many of these cake ideas for birthdays and other celebrations look like just plain ol' fun! And if you've visited with wedding cake designers lately, then you know that the times are a changin' in this area.

    ReplyDelete
  3. More and more people are turning towards holistic dog food recipes in order to make sure that their family pet is getting the nutrient it needs in order to live a long and healthy life. With recent pet food recalls, consumers are taking baked recipes that a lot of chemicals and preservatives are contained in these pet foods that can cause illness and even death.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Use an opening agenda to guarantee that your eatery is prepared before the eatery opening throughout the afternoon. Utilize an end agenda to help close the eatery appropriately and to set up the opening movement. steak

    ReplyDelete
  5. What is the real cost of food? Sustainable food promotes environmental, economic, social and nutritional well being. Whether in a school system, hospital, restaurant or university there are no two food systems that are, nor should be, alike. However, when it comes to dollars and cents, every establishment shares the same common denominators - food, labor, and other expenses. It's these realities that will ultimately be affected - up or down, and can ensure a program's success. Cow Ghee

    ReplyDelete
  6. What is the real cost of food? Sustainable food promotes environmental, economic, social and nutritional well being. Whether in a school system, hospital, restaurant or university there are no two food systems that are, nor should be, alike. However, when it comes to dollars and cents, every establishment shares the same common denominators - food, labor, and other expenses. It's these realities that will ultimately be affected - up or down, and can ensure a program's success. mexican recipes

    ReplyDelete
  7. What is the real cost of food? Sustainable food promotes environmental, economic, social and nutritional well being. Whether in a school system, hospital, restaurant or university there are no two food systems that are, nor should be, alike. However, when it comes to dollars and cents, every establishment shares the same common denominators - food, labor, and other expenses. It's these realities that will ultimately be affected - up or down, and can ensure a program's success. giống chanh không hạt

    ReplyDelete
  8. This article explains how eating high amounts of sugar and fat causes healthy foods to taste worse than they actually should. It also discusses how you can change your eating habits to make healthier foods taste better. Cultured Butter ghee

    ReplyDelete
  9. What is the real cost of food? Sustainable food promotes environmental, economic, social and nutritional well being. Whether in a school system, hospital, restaurant or university there are no two food systems that are, nor should be, alike. However, when it comes to dollars and cents, every establishment shares the same common denominators - food, labor, and other expenses. It's these realities that will ultimately be affected - up or down, and can ensure a program's success. best cast iron skillet for outdoors

    ReplyDelete
  10. There are several popular garden vegetables that you can plant during the summer months for harvest in the fall and winter. Planting some of these popular garden vegetables will extend your garden growing season to enjoy throughout the year. carote

    ReplyDelete
  11. There are several popular garden vegetables that you can plant during the summer months for harvest in the fall and winter. Planting some of these popular garden vegetables will extend your garden growing season to enjoy throughout the year. carote

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Many gardeners have been growing vegetables and flower for many years. Today there are many new gardeners wishing to start their own gardens for vegetables and herbs and do not how to begin. gilbert tree removal

    ReplyDelete
  14. https://seoreadytool.blogspot.com/2020/08/du-meter-crack-patch.html
    Greate post. Continue to write your blog such details. I’m impressed with your blog.
    Greate post. Continue to write your blog such details. I’m impressed with your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What is the real cost of food? Sustainable food promotes environmental, economic, social and nutritional well being. Whether in a school system, hospital, restaurant or university there are no two food systems that are, nor should be, alike. However, when it comes to dollars and cents, every establishment shares the same common denominators - food, labor, and other expenses. It's these realities that will ultimately be affected - up or down, and can ensure a program's success. delicious Chinese goodie

    ReplyDelete
  16. What is the real cost of food? Sustainable food promotes environmental, economic, social and nutritional well being. Whether in a school system, hospital, restaurant or university there are no two food systems that are, nor should be, alike. However, when it comes to dollars and cents, every establishment shares the same common denominators - food, labor, and other expenses. It's these realities that will ultimately be affected - up or down, and can ensure a program's success. https://golden-corral-operating-hours-and-guide.mystrikingly.com/

    ReplyDelete
  17. What is the real cost of food? Sustainable food promotes environmental, economic, social and nutritional well being. Whether in a school system, hospital, restaurant or university there are no two food systems that are, nor should be, alike. However, when it comes to dollars and cents, every establishment shares the same common denominators - food, labor, and other expenses. It's these realities that will ultimately be affected - up or down, and can ensure a program's success. cheap pineapple tart

    ReplyDelete
  18. Fat burning foods are also known as catabolic. As you may not yet know, they are readily available and they will definitely fit into your budget as well. Fat burning foods are simply different types of foods that will naturally assist the body in getting rid of its fat cells. Mountain Honey

    ReplyDelete