An Anatolian Dinner

I just had my first ever (that I can remember) Turkish dinner. The hotel has a restaurant named Atölye which serves modern Anatolian cuisine. I’m into new adventures so I had to try it. The maître d’ who seated me asked if I would like to see a menu and I told him that since I wouldn’t know what any of the dishes were, I would leave it to him to select for me.  And away we went. I’m doing something I never do – post pictures of food – but I want to remember what these things looked like.

First I was presented with a salad called Ispanal kôkû ve yogurt toplari.  It was a salad made of spinach roots marinated in olive oil on top of which were fried yogurt balls and some very thinly sliced beets and carrots. It was unlike any salad I’ve ever had, but it was very tasty.

Next came the main course, Kuzu Kûsleme, which was grilled lamb over a kind of wheat couscous with some chickpeas. The lamb was delicious as was the couscous, but I did think the latter had a little more salt than I like.  At home I hardly use any salt at all so most food seems over-salted to me. 

For dessert the chef came out and presented me with a dessert that’s not on the menu.  It’s something served during Ramadan when people are allowed to break their fast after sunset.  It’s called Güllaç. It’s made with milk, pomegranates, hazel nuts, and a special kind of very thin pastry.  On top were pomegranate seeds and around were blueberries for garnish.  It was absolutely delicious! It was light and not very sweet.

That was my first venture into Turkish cuisine of any kind and I thought it was very good.  There’s a Turkish restaurant at home which I may have to try now if it’s anything like tonight’s meal.  I think the chef and the Maitre d’ enjoyed having someone let them come up with what to serve. Oh, one more thing.  Before my meal I had a gin and tonic and it was probably the biggest one I’ve ever been served.  When I got the check I was stunned. The cocktail, three courses, and a bread board with three kinds of Turkish bread cost just over the equivalent of $40.  I thought that was very inexpensive for fine dining with  a view of the Bosporus.

That’s all for today.   The last call for prayer is echoing outside, so it's time for nighty-nite. Tomorrow is another day.