Overview

Turkish cuisine is a perfect mix of flavors and ingredients. It is mainly derived from Ottoman cuisine – and bearing in mind how big and ethnically diverse the Ottoman Empire was, it is easy to understand why influences from at least four different cultures can be found in Turkish food today: Balkan, Asian, Arabian and Mediterranean. Though typical dishes vary across the different parts of the country, there are some common key ingredients that can be found almost universally: lamb, beef, rice, eggplants, peppers, onions and of course – for Turkey’s famous desserts – pistachios, almonds and hazelnuts.

Some must-tries

You can’t get a taste of authentic Turkish food without trying the meal that made the Imam (an Islamic Leader) faint – at least that is the legend behind the name of the famous onion and tomato stuffed eggplant dish “Imam Bayildi”. The name literally translates as “the Imam fainted” and the story goes like this: one day the wife of the Imam cooked this meal and it looked so delicious that the Imam fainted just at the sight of it.

Another star of Turkish cuisine is rice – pilaf – which is served as a side dish with almost every meal. The most popular and easiest version of this is just plain rice, cooked in water and stirred through with butter, though sometimes tomatoes, chickpeas, eggplant and various spices can be added.

And since one of the few well-known truths about life is that “pizza is always a good idea”, while in Turkey you can substitute that for what is often referred to as “the Turkish pizza” – lahmacun. The meal consists of thin dough topped with minced meat and vegetables, then sprinkled with parsley and lemon juice. It goes very well with ayran (a salty yogurt drink) and is a relatively cheap, fast snack.

Lahmacun

The sweet side of life in Turkey

Think of the sweetest thing you’ve ever eaten. Multiply that by three and you get the flavor of Turkey’s most famous dessert: baklava. Today’s baklava recipes date back to at least the 15^th century, though the initial time and place of its origin are still debatable. What’s for sure though is that baklava is one of the most popular snacks to eat between meals or with a cup of tea. Traditionally it is made from filo pastry filled with pistachio, almonds or hazelnuts and held together with syrup.

A lighter and rather fresher dessert is the Turkish muhalebbi – a creamy, milk-based pudding. It is thickened by rice flour, topped with syrup and often flavored with cinnamon, saffron and some pistachios on top.

And a trip to Turkey doesn’t even count if you don’t return home with some treats like the delicious Turkish delight (gelatinous candies made from starch and sugar), tahin (crushed sesame seeds), flour or semolina helva, or marzipan (Turkish marzipan is considered to be among the best in the world).

The coffee culture

Turkish coffee is a big part of the country’s cultural heritage. Drinking coffee is a social ritual here and has been so ever since the 16^th century, when the first coffee houses appeared in Istanbul. In fact, the Turkish lifestyle is so influenced by the beverage that even the world for breakfast (“kahvalti”) translates literally as “before coffee”. It plays a big part in some special occasions like engagements, when the bride’s coffee-making skills are judged by the groom’s family.

When you are done with your coffee, it is common for your hostess in Turkey to use the leftover ‘mud’ in the bottom of the cup for fortune telling and discovering your true thoughts and feelings.

There are some special techniques for brewing Turkish coffee that make it unlike any other. The coffee is first blended, then roasted and ground. Some special tools are needed from this point on, like the copper boiling pot (cezve) in which the coffee slowly brews, and the artistic ceramic cups in which it is served.

The tea culture

Turkish tea is black and strong and served boiling hot in a tulip-shaped glass. In the past century it has become the drink of choice for most people and is sure to be offered to guests at Turkish people’s homes. Just like coffee, there is a specific ritual for preparing Turkish tea – in a double-level teapot made specially for that purpose. First the water is poured into the bottom level, and some herbal leaves placed in the upper one. When the water starts boiling, part of the liquid rises to the top one for about 15–20 minutes. The strong drink is then served along with the rest of the water, which can be added to dilute the strength of the tea, depending on the person’s individual preferences.

The street food

The Turkish kebab that can now be found all over the world has an interesting origin. When Turkish soldiers were away from home, they used their swords to grill meat. One cook from Bursa – Iskender – took that idea, but decided to place the rotisserie vertically instead of horizontally. In doing so he became the father of the most famous Turkish kebab – the döner kebab – which is well known as one of the most delicious and popular street snacks all across Turkey (and the whole world, really!).

Another on-the go breakfast favored by a lot of Turkish people, especially in Istanbul, is the simit, which is actually one of the symbols of the city. It is easy to understand why when you smell the tempting aroma of the freshly-baked, sesame-encrusted bread rings early in the morning while the city is still waking up.

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Have you tried Gahuwa Arabia (Arabic coffee) while in Dubai? This drink of hospitality is a blend of lightly roasted Arabic beans, cardamon and saffron, which are ground and boiled. The coffee is strained and served hot in small cups. And did you know that more than 40 varieties of dates are grown in Dubai?

What do you know about the Bedouin cuisine?

Dubai is known as a technological and cosmopolitan city. While gazing at the skyscrapers, however, you might miss the essence. If you want to culturally immerse in Dubai and the Emirate life, visit the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU).

The idea

The center was founded in 1998 and since then have been acting as a bridge between the many different nationalities living, working and visiting the UAE. The center’s philosophy is “Open Doors. Open Minds.” Located in a traditional Wind Tower House in the heart of the historic Al Fahidi District in Bur Dubai, the center offers a range of enrichment activities.

Heritage tours

Step back in time and enjoy the atmosphere of Al Fahidi Historic District, one of the oldest traditional Emirate neighborhoods in Dubai. Get the best guides for a walk through the unique narrow sikkas and beautiful wind towers that adorn the original residences along the Dubai Creek. Or learn about Emirate culture and religion in a relaxed, casual and open atmosphere at only mosque dedicated to receiving non-Muslim guests in Dubai – the Jumeirah Mosque.

Cultural meals

Skip the hotel breakfast and join a traditional Emirate breakfast or lunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding. The authentic Emirate cuisine that you are going to try is homemade using the founder’s mother recipes. The local diet and dishes are made mostly of fish, meat and rice with sweeter dishes served at breakfast. It’s not only about the food – your meal will be accompanied by a chat with an Emirate host about UAE culture, customs and religion.

Contacts and opening hours: The center is open to the public Sunday through Thursday 8 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. Get more information here.

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The first place I will take you to in Lisbon is… Baixa-Chiado – two neighbourhoods in the heart of the city that stretch from the coast to the main boulevard Avenida da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue). The streets in Baixa are named after the shop-owners and craftsmen, who traded in the area. Here past and modernity meet. Walking around Baixa is almost magical. In addition to the magnificent buildings, the huge coastal square Plaza del Comercio, the elegant square Praça do Rossio, the main boulevard Avenida da Liberdade, the old trams and the elevator Elevador de Santa Justa, (which gives an incredible view to the city), here you can find stores offering elegant and alternative couture, fado restaurants, cafes and museums.

Whenever I want to enjoy some tranquillity, I go to… Belem. In Belem you can find cafes sheltered in beautiful traditional houses, tables in the open by the Belem Tower garden.

The best place for coffee and cake is… Antiga Confeitaria de Belem Café, where they have been serving the delicious cream tart pastry known as Pastel de nata. In fact, the great Portuguese sailors would set out for their discovery missions from Belem neighbourhood itself. There are several monuments by the river, which are worth visiting, such as the Belem Tower (Torre de Belem), the Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jeronimos) and the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrao dos Descobrimentos).

If you come to Lisbon, make sure you take a picture with… the statue of Fernando Pessoa – one of the greatest Portuguese poets. The statue is on Garret Street (Rua Garret), in Chiado neighbourhood, near the emblematic cafe Cafe a Brasiliera.

From the local cuisine make sure you try… cozido à portuguesa (vegetables with different types of meat and sausage) or dried fish (Bacalhau).

When I want to escape the crowds, I go to… Gulbenkian Park. There is an open-air amphitheater for 1,000 people, the park with the lake in the background. During the day, lots of locals turn it into a special place for resting, reading or meditating. In addition, on stage are dance, theater and musical performances – mainly in the summer.

Lisbon residents would never… stop loving their city. Lisbon has a unique natural light and a special atmosphere, which make it one of the most beautiful cities I know.

Few people know that… Lisbon s cobbled pavements are a real work of art. The traditional Portuguese cobbled roads appear and develop during the restoration works after the devastating earthquake in 1755. Everything started with the cobbles at Rossio Square (Praca do Rossio), which soon reached other cities in Portugal, Brazil, Macao and other colonies.

In the spring you should… visit the Nations Park (Parque das Nacoes) – amazing contemporary architecture by the river, in full contrast with the old neighborhoods. One of the world’s most impressive oceanariums is located here. In addition, there is a watch tower, harbor and lots of places where you can grab a bite or a drink in the open while looking at one of the longest bridges in the world – Vasco da Gama.

In the summer you should… visit one of the summer festivals. The biggest is Optimus Alive – a series of concerts. Green Day, Depeche Mode and Kings of Leon among others have performed there. In addition, you should go to the beach. You can choose between Cascais and Costa da Caparica. Both places offer big sand dunes and opportunities to surf, kite surf, body-board, windsurf, etc.

In the autumn you should… take a walk around Baixa and Chiado, snuggled in a warm coat, eating roasted chestnuts bought from street vendors. The weather in Lisbon is mild and you can do the same things in spring and in autumn. You may worry about the rain only in winter.

Discover 10 beautiful quotes on Portugal

In the winter you should… find yourself a quiet and warm place to have a cup of warm tea while reading a book. You can also spare some time for culture, museums (the Fado Museum, the Design Museum), concerts or the theater. If you feel like shopping, you can choose between several trade centers. I personally prefer Atrium Saldanha because there are live piano performances in the late afternoon. The biggest malls, however, are Centro Comercial Colombo, Centro Comercial Vasco da Gama and Dolce Vita Tejo.

The best one-day trip from Lisbon is to… Sintra. It is located 30 minutes away from the capital and will impress you with its mystical hills, on which fairy-tale castles and extravagant villas are perched. North of Lisbon there are several excellent beaches – Praia da Adraga (among BBC’s top 20 European beaches), the spacious Praia Grande and Praia das Macas.

Only in Lisbon you can see… the Santos Populares celebrations. In Lisbon we celebrate St. Anthony the Matchmaker’s Day on 12 and 13 June. “Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony, find me a husband” is one of the most popular refrains at this time. But as we also honor the saints Sao Pedro and Sao João, the celebrations last a whole week. We decorate the streets with balloons and colorful paper arches and in the old neighborhoods (Alfama, Ajuda, Mouraria) there are street stands where you can buy red wine and sardines. People dance traditional dances on the streets.

Along Avenida da Liberdade boulevard, on 12 June there is a parade of the city neighborhoods called Marchas Populares. Hundreds of people in colorful costumes march in the spirit of the traditions of their part of the capital – fishermen, old crafts, etc, competing to be the best among the neighborhoods.

There is another tradition on Saint Anthony’s Day – if you love someone, you give them a love letter or a love verse attached to a basil stem.

When I want to take a walk in nature, I go to… the Botanic garden in Principe Real quarter. At its opening in 1873 it was considered the best botanic garden in Southern Europe. Today, although slightly neglected in some parts, you can still see one of Europe s richest subtropical plant collections there. In addition, the thick exotic flowers, trees and bushes (18 000 species in total, all of them labeled) are the coolest place in Lisbon. The other option is Monsanto Park from where you can see entire Lisbon. There are also lots of animals here.

>>> Read more from our Through the Eyes of a Local series.

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Every seasoned traveler, no matter where in the world, knows how to find the restaurant where they cook delicious meals at reasonable prices. Here are a few key tips that we’d like to share with you.

Avoid tourist trap establishments

Some of them may be beautifully furnished, and the meals in others may be eatable, however, generally speaking, the restaurants in tourist areas are no good. These places are usually more expensive and offer a fusion of boring European cuisine, along with one or two hastily prepared local dishes.

Look for a full house

Once you have escaped the tourist traps, look for a restaurant that is full of people. How full could a place possibly be on Tuesday, at lunchtime? Trust me, if they cook truly well, finding a table will be a challenge.

Flip through the menu before sitting down

It’s common practice for restaurants to display their menus next to the front door. Take a look at that before getting a table. If a restaurant’s focal point is the food, then they’ll have either an interesting and diverse menu or plenty of local dishes. Quality restaurants usually offer a long list of main courses, as well as an abundance of vegetarian dishes. Meals that contain vegetables are more challenging and time-consuming to prepare. That is precisely why you’ll find mostly meat-based dishes in those restaurants where the quality of food is not emphasized. Lower-quality restaurants will usually offer barbecue or meat with some sort of sauce.

Ask the waiter for advice

Now that you have found the best restaurant in town (with special covered dinner plates or some kind of special food), your next task is to select the tastiest meal of the day. It’s best to ask the waiter for some advice. A wide smile, two gaping hungry eyes and a request for the best local dish will do. You can even go on to say that you have been looking forward to trying the country’s local cuisine for a long time now, since you’ve heard so many great things about it. Let the waiter recommend your drinks and desserts as well. If you follow this advice, you will surely enjoy a memorable meal, complemented by excellent service. Wondering why we believe so? It’s simple – everyone enjoys being asked for advice, especially in areas where they feel they are an expert. What’s more, your waiter will feel good about having the opportunity to charm you with the best dishes from his or her own country.

As you are preparing to leave, don’t forget to share your positive impressions. Express your gratitude towards the waiter and chef, while savoring a soufflé, paella, or cacio e pepe. This is going to warm their hearts more than tips, blankets, or gunfire cocktails put together. Also, you’ll get bonus points with the chance that distributes people among the great and horrible establishments all over the universe.

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Only in Zagreb, you can see… The Museum of Broken Relationships.

Stop by and check our redesigned souvenir shop! 🙂 #brokenships #museumofbrokenrelationships #shopdesign

A post shared by Museum of Broken Relationships (@brokenships) on Jun 14, 2017 at 11:43am PDT

When I want to take a walk in nature I go to… Sljeme (the highest peak of Medvednica Mountain, just north of Zagreb); Maksimir Park.

Few people know that… Zagreb is a city of dragons and tunnels. Dragons are well-incorporated into Croatian culture – in Zagreb, there are two sculptures of St George slaying a dragon, a reference to the famous myth in which he saved the princess of Silene from the jaws of the beast. Dragons have found their place in many local brands’ logos, too. And there is even a secret society in the city called the “Order of the Brethren of the Croatian Dragon”.

Another mystical element of the city is its secret tunnels. It’s believed that there are underground passages throughout the whole old city – some of them are open to tourists and you can join an organized tour to explore them.

Zagreb is also home to the shortest cable car in the world. The Zagreb funicular is only 66 m (216 ft) long and connects the Upper and Lower towns.

Make sure you try… zagrebački odrezak (breaded and fried veal steak, filled with ham and cheese); štrukli (dough with different fillings).

Mouthwatering štrukli / Wikipedia

The best place for coffee and cake is… Kava-tava place.

The best view of Zagreb is from… the Zagreb Eye; the Upper Town.

Zagreb as seen from the Zagreb Eye / Zagreb 360°

Whenever I want to enjoy some tranquility I go to…  Zrinjevac Park.

When I was a kid my favorite place to go was… Trg Bana Jelačića (Ban Jelačić Square); the Upper Town.

>>> Read more from our Through the Eyes of a Local series.

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