Cacik vs tzatziki looks at first like another simple Turkish-versus-Greek food debate. But this case is interesting because we have something more useful than national claims: historical recipes and Greek-language dictionaries that we can actually…
Date Archives March 2024
How to Stop Chili Burn in Your Mouth: What Actually Helps
Why do chili peppers make your mouth feel as if it is burning even though there is no actual heat? The answer lies mainly in capsaicin, the compound responsible for the pungency of many chili…
Turkish Kitchen Tools: What We Actually Use at Home
Turkish kitchen tools make more sense when you see how people actually use them. A cezve is not just a small coffee pot, an oklava is not simply another rolling pin, and a sac is…
Tarhana Soup: A Traditional Turkish Fermented Soup
Tarhana soup is one of the foods I most strongly associate with winter, family kitchens, and my childhood in Seferihisar, on the Aegean coast of İzmir. It begins with a fermented mixture of grain, yogurt,…
Turkish Superstitions: Evil Eye, Nazar & Beliefs I Grew Up With
What Turkish Superstitions Look Like in Daily Life Turkish superstitions are less a rulebook than a set of small habits woven into daily life. Examples include a blue bead by the door, a quick “maşallah”…
Turkish Holiday Traditions: Bayram Customs & National Holidays
When people search for Turkish holiday traditions or “holidays in Turkey,” they are usually mixing two different ideas. The first is the religious bayrams, Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı. These are often family-centered: morning prayer,…
Ramadan Pide: Turkey’s Traditional Bread for Iftar
Ramadan pide is one of the foods that immediately takes me back to the Ramadans of my childhood in Seferihisar. For me, it is not simply a round bread covered with sesame and nigella seeds….
Doner or Gyro: The Delicious Duel Between Turkish and Greek
In the vibrant world of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, two dishes stand out for their irresistible flavors and intriguing similarities: the Turkish Iskender doner or Greek Gyro. These culinary delights, while sharing some characteristics,…
Yuvalaça – Seferihisar Traditional Food
Yuvalaça is one of the traditional dishes I grew up eating in Seferihisar. I do not make Yuvalaça myself, so I did not want to present this recipe as if it came from my own…
Gut Health: Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Everyday Food Habits
Gut health has become one of the most widely used terms in modern nutrition. It appears on food labels, supplement bottles, social media posts, and wellness articles. However, the term is often used so broadly…
Tipping in Turkey: How Much to Tip at Restaurants, Hotels & Taxis
Tipping in Turkey is voluntary, but that does not mean tipping culture is absent. In my experience, whether people tip — and how much they leave — depends heavily on the type of place, the…
Istanbul Street Foods – When You Come to Istanbul, You Must Try It
Istanbul, a city that straddles two continents, is as famous for its historic architecture and vibrant culture as it is for its diverse and delicious street food. When you visit Istanbul, sampling the street food…