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The Istanbul kitchen is regarded as
one of the best in the world. Ingredients, chefs, styles and tastes
came from every part of the Empire to the capital, making the Ottoman
Turkish kitchen significant in world cuisine. But Turkish cuisine
has not ceased to develop, and is growing and enhancing long after
the end of the Empire.
The typical dish of Istanbul
would consist of lamb, mutton and veal, to which a variety of vegetables
are added. Pilaf, all kinds of pastry, bulgur, haricot beans, rich
olive oil and vegetables are used as side dishes. Meat balls, shish
kebab and doner kebab are the classic, most classic dishes found in
any kebab restaurant, together with peppers, yoghurt, eggplant. Because
of its coastal location, fish is also popular although is usually
cooked simply, such as grilled or fried with olive oil and lemon juice.
Like the rest of the country,
the usual way of starting a big meal is with mezzes, a selection of
hot and cold dishes such as meat, fish, salads, vegetables and cheese,
shared amongst the table and eaten with fresh bread. To finish your
meal, pastry tarts, baklava, kadayif and a whole host of sweets are
available not only in restaurants, but in pastry shops which have
often been going for generations.
Because it is the commercial
and cultural centre of Turkey, there are restaurants of many nationalities
in Istanbul, like Korean, Russian, Italian and Chinese. American-style
fast-food outlets are becoming more popular, but for a quick snack
it is more appropriate to fill up at the plethora of tiny takeaways
with kebabs and snacks. It is easy to sample good quality regional
cuisine in typical small restaurants, usually at low cost, especially
in the commercial and business areas.
To wash down your meal, Turkey’s
most famous two drinks are milky-coloured – although could not
be more different: Ayran is a cooling, salty yoghurt drink which is
refreshing in summer and can be found everywhere, from street stalls
to restaurants. Raki, with the nick-name Lion’s Milk is a strong
spirit with the taste of Aniseed, which turns milky-white when mixed
with water. It is usually drunk to accompany food, especially at the
beginning with mezzes. The main area of beer and wine production is
Anatolia.
Turkish coffee is legendary,
usually served very sweet and strong and drunk from tiny cups. It
normally follows a meal, or is popular in cafes and offered when visiting
people or even sitting in carpet shops! The expression, “a cup
of coffee has a memory of 40 years”, has been repeated by Turks
since the 16th century.
For a meal out which is lively
and entertaining, the taverns and fish restaurants around Kumkapi,
west of Sultanahmet, are great for outdoor dining and street atmosphere,
and very popular in the summer. People have been meeting for years
at Cicek Pasaji in Beyoglu for snacks and seafood specialities, and
nearby is the narrow Nevizade street, the best place in Istanbul for
eating Turkish specialties and drinking raki. On the Bosphorus, Ortakoy
is another good nightlife spot, with a good range of nightclubs, jazz
clubs, fine seafood restaurants and bars. At Eminönü don't
miss an opportunity to see fishermen dressed in traditional Ottoman
clothes and their Ottoman-style boats cooking delicious fried fish,
whilst bobbing on the water around Eminonu. |
Many people come to Istanbul for the
shopping alone. The Kapali Carsisi, or Covered Market, is the logical
place to start as the area and variety is immense. Still the commercial
centre of the old city, the bazaar is the original shopping “mall”
with a vast selection of carpets, souvenirs, clothes, shoes, jewellery
and handicrafts made from ceramics, copper and brass. Many shops have
recently sprung up around Aksaray selling leather, suede and fur coats,
catering mainly for Russian and Eastern European buyers. The Misir
Carsisi is good for picking up spices, locum, flavoured teas and small
souvenirs. (See section on Bazaars.)
Sultanahmet has become another
shopping mecca in the old city mainly because it has the highest concentration
of tourist attractions. The Istanbul Sanatlari Carsisi (Bazaar of
Istanbul Arts) in the 18th century Mehmet Efendi Medresesi, and the
nearby 16th-century Caferaga Medrese, built by Sinan, offer you the
chance to see craftsmen at work and to purchase their wares. In the
Arasta (old bazaar) of the Sultanahmet Mosque, a thriving shopping
arcade selling carpets, jewellery and local arts makes both shopping
and sightseeing very convenient. There are many carpet shops in this
area, and the chances are that sooner or later you will be approached
by one of many dealers to visit his shop.
The sophisticated shops of in
the Taksim and Nisantasi districts contrast with the chaos of the
bazaars. Istiklal Caddesi and Cumhuriyet Caddesi have shops selling
elegant fashionwear made from Turkey's high quality textiles. Exquisite
jewellery, as well as finely designed handbags and shoes can also
be found. Nisantasi is the main area for clothes by top Turkish designers.
For an even more modern, European
shopping experience, the huge new malls of the Atakoy Galleria Mall
in Atakoy, the Akmerkez Mall in Etiler and the Carousel Mall in Bakirkoy
have have European outlets, Turkish fashion shops, as well as restaurants
and a cinema. have branches of Istanbul's most elegant shops. In Bakirkoy,
the Carousel Mall is worth a visit, as is the Atlas Passage in Beyoglu.
Bahariye Avenue, Bagdat Avenue,and Capitol Mall on the Asian side,
offer the same shopping opportunities.
In Istanbul's busy flea markets
there is an astonishing assortment of goods, both old and new. There
is a daily opportunity to poke about the Sahaflar Carsisi and Cinaralti
in the Beyazit areas. On Sundays, in a flea market between the Sahaflar
and the Covered Bazaar, vendors uncover their wares on carts and blankets.
The Horhor Carsisi is a collection of shops selling furniture of varying
age and quality. Flea markets are open daily in the Topkapi district,
on Cukurcuma Sokak in Cihangir, on Buyuk Hamam Sokak in Uskudar, in
the Kadikoy Carsi Duragi area, and between Eminonu and Tahtakale.
After a Sunday drive up the Bosphorus, stop between Buyukdere and
Sariyer to wander through another lively market. |
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Kesit
Travel Agency
Caglayan Mah. 2007 Sok. No: 7 TR-07230 Antalya /
Turkey
Tel: + 90 - 242 - 323 90 09 - Fax: +90-242 - 323 96
66
E-mail :
info@kesit.com
Licence Nr : 3528
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