So today is World Blog Surf Day, and my task is to talk about food. Tough one. Not really something I think about often….just all day long.
Lucky for me, I live in one of the food meccas of the world. Turkish cuisine ranks up there with the best. Not only do I love it, but I never tire of it. It’s kind of amazing, really. When I lived in the States, I would try to figure out what kind of food I wanted that day, and luckily most ethnic foods were represented. We could have Italian on Monday, Thai on Tuesday, burgers on Wednesday, and the list goes on…each day trying a different cuisine. I have to say. I like that!
Needing constant change just doesn’t really happen to me here. There are plenty of ethnic restaurants in Ankara, but I just don’t need them. I am content to eat Turkish every day. I don’t, but I certainly could.
However, there is one restaurant in Eagle River, Alaska that I miss. It’s a Mexican restaurant called Garcia’s (original, huh?) that offers the regular array of choices. I love that dinner starts off with some homemade salsa and warm tortilla chips, then moves onto my favorite dish, the seafood enchiladas. I wash this all down with a tasty brew, Alaskan Amber. Not only is the food great here, but the atmosphere is just a blast. It’s dusty, busy, and just plain fun.
If you happen to be in or around Anchorage, take the highway north and stop off in Eagle River. I’ll be there this summer, and I can’t wait.
Here in Ankara, I also have my favorite, Uludag Kebab. This is a chain restaurant with about five branches. The one I frequent is in Cayyolu. Most of them just offer kebabs, like Iskender, but the one restaurant that I go to has a full menu of mezzes (appetizers) , and that is what draws me to it, time and time again.
I always order at least three mezzes, the yaprak sarma (stuffed grapeleaves), haydari (yogurt spread with garlic and mint), and the patlican tava (fried eggplant) that comes with two toppings, yogurt and a mild salsa. Then I experiment with the others that are offered. They are all good, but not as good as these three staples. For a main course, I usually go for the lamb sis kebab, but everything I’ve tried is just as good.
If you come to Ankara, try Uludag! I will probably be there. I’m a regular.
To keep following the WBSD route, it’s time for Martin in Bulgaria. Also, we’ve been lucky to have Anastasia from Istanbul tweeting this, so see what she has to say here: @thandelike.
Also thanks to Sher for putting this all together. Fun! Fun! Fun!
Hi Corinne,
Reading your post made me very hungry for Mexican food! We have Mexican restaurants here, in Prague, that are pretty good! I also make some homemade, but haven’t done that in a while…probably will this week!
Turkish food sounds very interesting and very good–something I would like to try one of these days!
Have a great day,
Sher :0)
Some Turkish deserts are also worthwhile mentioning, I had a few whilst living in former West Berlin. I forget their names but theu were lovely and dripping with honey, especially great if they were fresh!
That is so awesome that you still have a fave place to eat in Alaska. When I go back to my homeland, I don’t have a favorite restaurant. I could eat anywhere. Just give me my Czech food!
)
Hm, ethnic food is not too common here in Prague, there are ethnic restaurants, but there are a bit touristy, if you know what I mean. Turkish food sounds a bit similar to Greek food to me, am I correct? We are coming to Turkey this October, and I am really looking forward to trying it! SY
I’ve been reading all these blogs about food today and it’s making me hungry. I think you should all follow up with some recipes.
Hi Corinne,
Funny, the same thing happens to me with Lebanese food (which was strongly influenced by Ottoman food – hmm, do the Turks put addictive substances in their dishes I wonder?) Here in Vancouver, it is a neverending rotation of styles in my kitchen: Canadian, French, Chinese, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese… but back when I was in the Middle East, I was perfectly content eating the same Lebanese dishes day in and day out. I really wonder why that is.
Emmanuelle
Corinne, what a coincedence, the only food in Turkey I miss is the real Mexican (even TexMex)food! And of course Dutch food..))
Nice to meet another expat in Turkey!
Kindest
hans
There’s a huge variety in Turkish food compared to Irish cuisine. Still anytime I come to Ankara I get a hankering for the ethnic restaurants, lacking slightly here.
Good post!
Thanks to all of you that commented for WBSD! I had an absolute blast reading your blogs, too. I can’t wait until next year!