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ULTIMATE TURKISH CULINARY EXPERIENCES

ISTANBUL
KADIKOY MARKET TOUR WITH REGIONAL ANATOLIAN  LUNCH
We will take a ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side of Istanbul from Eminönü and walk through the Kadıköy market where there is plenty to discover for the "foodie. This market is one of İstanbul's most colorful, vibrant and accessible shopping spots. Many traders have been in business since the early to mid 1900s and the more famous ones really need no introduction.
We will wander to probably Kadıköy's, if not İstanbul's best-known restaurant amongst gourmets .
This restaurant specializes in food from the Southeastern region of Turkey, as well as a wider selection of Mediterranian food. The ingredients used in the dishes travel from the cities of Hatay and Gaziantep to arrive at your plate in Istanbul: aromatic red pepper, pistachios,chickpeas, olive oil and pomegranate molasses. Here we will enjoy a sumptuous meal by the reknown chef and eventually hear the stories of his signature dishes; Zahter salad, kebab with pistachios, stuffed eggplant, babahannus, and many more. After lunch we will take the ferry back to the European side.
SPICE MARKET WALK WITH LUNCH AT A KEBAB RESTAURANT
Depart for a walk to the Spice Bazaar and nearby attractions. This extensive market was built in the 17th century to finance the upkeep of the nearby mosque, Yeni Cami. The bazaar is often referred to as the "Egyptian Market" due to the fact that spices used to come to the market from India and Southeast Asia via Egypt. There is  plenty to discover for the "foodie." At the end of our walk we will stop for delicious kebabs and discover how various spices are used in Turkish Kebab Cuisine.
BREAKFAST AT THE BESIKTAS MARKET, BOSPHORUS CRUISE AND ORTAKOY STREETFOOD
Besiktas is still one big and delicious marketplace with a very old fashioned attitude.
For breakfast we will stop at a tiny hole in the wall that sells kaymak - clotted cream. Then board a boat for a cruise on the Bosphorus and return to Ortaköy to taste a variety of streetfood at its best.
ECOLOGIC PEOPLE'S MARKET and LUNCH AT A VEGETERIAN RESTAURANT - Only on Saturdays
Istanbul's one and only organic market takes place every Saturday. Far from being as crowded as the weekly markets in Kadıköy or Beşiktaş, Istanbul's organic community meets here on Saturdays, not only to shop, but also to socialize, to exchange news, rally support for environmental activities or simply to have a glass of tea.
PERA MARKET WALK AND LUNCH
We will walk on Istıklal street with stops at specialty shops. We will stroll through the Galatasaray Fish Market to get acquantainted with local products, stop at the pickle shop, spice shop ,a typical bread oven, the fishermen, the greengrocer and similar other shops, meet local vendors and learn about how those are used in the Turkish Cuisine, what is in season etc .
PERA MARKET AND ÇUKURCUMA WALK
After discovering the Pera Market we will continue to Çukurcuma. Çukurcuma is clearly ideal for an off the beaten track experience. Traditional residence of Istanbul’s ethnic minorities until only recently, Çukurcuma today is one of the city’s rare corners where local color is preserved. Historic baths from whose dome, steam still rises, piano repair shops, rows of antique shops, centuries old buildings with mysterious back gardens. Art galleries, design shops and cafes are opening one after the other. A pickle shop welcomes you at the beginning of Çukurcuma.The shops are a curious mix of designer's studios, fashion boutiques and antique dealers make you feel like you're on a treasure hunt.
 
EAT & SHOP LIKE LOCALS AT THE GRAND BAZAAR
You will linger in the Grand Bazaar, shop for unusual treasures and enjoy delicious tasty treats served in quaint restaurants at reasonable prices.
Find out places you never would have found by yourselves!
DAY TRIP TO A VINEYARD  NEAR ISTANBUL
Do you wish to learn more about Turkish Wines?
Our Turkish Wine tour with lunch is a day trip to Mürefte in Tekirdağ and designed for people who love wine and want to learn more about Turkish Wines. You will taste wines and explore the process of producing wine and enjoy a delicious famous Tekirdağ meatball lunch.
COMMENTED OTTOMAN DINNER AT ASITANE RESTAURANT
The Asitane Restaurant, whose dishes reflect the eclectic nature of the Turco-Ottoman neighbourhood, was named Asitane which not only means "Head Gate" in Farsi but was also one of the many names given to Istanbul throughout the reign of the Ottoman Empire. The restaurant specializes in fine Ottoman court cuisine.
Extensive research was undertaken prior to the opening of the restaurant as kitchen registries deep from the archives of Topkapı and Dolmabahçe Palaces were scoured for recipes, and relevant documentation was found in Istanbul's Beyazıt and Millet libraries. Additional important sources of information for the duration of the preparation period were dug up using old Ottoman dictionaries, the written historic accounts of various statesmen, medical practitioners and soldiers.
At dinner you will taste a pre-designed menu chosen from 200 forgotten sweet and savory recipes, prepared in keeping with the cooking methods of 500 years ago.
ISTANBUL STREETFOOD WALK
Our Istanbul Street Food Walk is designed to introduce you to Istanbul's diverse street food.This tour will give you a chance to visit truly authentic street food stalls and a local market, allowing you a glimpse into the daily lives of the people of Istanbul..
This tour will give you a chance to visit truly authentic street food stalls and one of the oldest fish markets in Istanbul, allowing you a glimpse into the daily lives of the people of Istanbul.
We will stroll through the Galatasaray Fish Market to get acquantainted with local products, stop at the pickle shop, spice shop ,a typical bread oven, the fishermen, the greengrocer and similar other shops, meet local vendors and learn about how those are used in the Turkish Cuisine, what is in season etc . Then we will walk on Istıklal street with stops at specialty shops.
At the end of the walk you will be treated to Turkish wine and cheese in a well known vegeterian restaurant of the area.
NEW !CUSTOM DESIGN CULINARY ITINERARIES IN ISTANBUL
We also offer to take you by the hand and custom design your own food itinerary if you prefer to travel at your own pace in Istanbul.
We will send you a detailed written itinerary, addresses and directions for market, restaurant and cafés, opening hours for that day, and make your restaurant reservations upon your request.
These Turkish Flavours itineraries are not guided, giving you the freedom to explore at your own pace.
You can order your custom design food itinerary by sending an e-mail to us.
Please do not forget to include your food  likes and dislikes , your restaurant preferences, specific places you have noted and want to try ..
HOME HOSTED DINNERS

This evening you will venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Istanbul!

You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Dinner with Turkish Wine upon availability of hosts. This dinner is available with minimum 4 participants.

PRINCE'S ISLAND TOUR

Take local ferry and meet with Selin on the largest of the Princes’ Islands (Principio -Büyükada). Büyükada is a beautiful summer resort with ancient style wooden houses and old summer residences. There are no  museums , no cars even just horses and carriages to get around ( the alternative is riding a donkey), grand houses and mansions wreathed with wisteria, begonvilla, pine forests, cliffs.

On the island you will stroll through the pier to visit the island's local market and stop at specialty shops.
After your tour  you will stop have a succulent lunch by the sea. After lunch a horse -drawn carriage will drive you throughout the pine woods taking approx 1 hour. You will taste a delicious ice cream before your cruise back to town.
A DAY WITH CHEF ŞEMSA
You are cordially invited to join Chef Şemsa Denizsel and participate in the unusual opportunity to experience the restaurant business through the eyes of a chef.
Rise and Shine!  Join Chef at 5:00 a.m. to tour the Wholesale Produce Market of Istanbul. Work with Şemsa as she inspects every product from tomatoes  to eggplant in her pursuit for only the highest quality and freshest ingredients. There really is no telling what will be on the special board until after the "market run". You will also stop by her fish monger to check the best available for todays menu.
You will then return to the kitchen and start your day at the restaurant.  This where the real work day begins! Your day will continue observing tasks in many of the stations.
Learn mis en place, and learn how Şemsa’s  kitchen works.
Throughout the day Şemsa  is constantly working with a range of staff, line cooks, interns and dishwashers, hands on coaching and teaching the best ways to handle and prepare the products purchased fresh that day. Şemsa changes her menu seasonally to reflect the freshest ingredients in what is now commonly called "from the farm to the plate" cooking.
This is your chance to experience the way a restaurant kitchen is run,  with passion to present a quality dining experience. For lunch you will  join us and enjoy the days menu.Chef Şemsa  looks forward to seeing you after lunch to teach you how to prepare one of the restaurants most popular dish, CHITIR!
Cost to participate is program runs with maximum 2 participants.
To reserve your day with Chef Şemsa or purchase this tour as a gift,
please send us an email to selin@turkishflavours.com
TURKISH FLAVOURS STUDY LUNCH
The focus of this three-hour experience, is a study lunch at Kantin. Kantin opened in 2000 in its present location in Nişantaşi, on the first floor of an old Nişantaşi apartment building. Nişantaşı is famous for its many Art Nouveau apartment buildings and is home to several prominent figures of the Turkish culture and art. Nobel laureate Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk is one of the local residents.
Chef- owner Semsa Denizsel, is passionate about fresh, seasonal and local ingredients, and concocts wonderfully simple yet elegant food with them. Her restaurant, Kantin, is one of the best-kept culinary secrets of Istanbul.
The breadth of the constantly changing daily specials drawing from the best local and seasonal ingredients, provides us with unlimited choice in explanations of the finer points of Turkish cuisine, and highlight the regional differences of the Turkish kitchen.
Previous to the Chef`s table part of this event we will make a leisurely tour through the exquisite food shops in Nisantasi. We'll mix with the locals doing their daily shopping while taking in its sites, sounds, and colors. We then make the short walk to Kantin to enjoy our lunch together. We will explain the menu as we compose a meal to illustrate the major components of a Turkish meal in general as well as specific dishes particular to the Istanbul repertory and a variety of seasonal dishes. As we savor our lunch, we will provide information on the components of a typical meal, and the incredibly rich array of fresh ingredients that comprise our meal. Chef Semsa will also join at times for additional information.
BODRUM
A TASTE OF BODRUM
You will drive to a local market to shop for the ingredients of your cookery class.  At the market local villagers sell self harvested olives, all kinds of greens and fruits home made jams, noodles etc. You  will then drive to a small village in Ortakent, Yarbasan which is a candidate for the AgaHan prize this year, each home in this village is a replica to the original ancient homes of the region ,at the center of this village is the Erenler Sofrasi restaurant where you will learn samples from te Aegean Turkish Cuisine, with lots of olive oil and herbs. We will taste what you have cooked for lunch.
Each participant will receive the recipes of their cooking class menu and a glass of Turkish Wine.
At 2:30 pm we will depart the village and you will still have time to visit The Crusaders Castle and the underwater museum and the town itself if you wish.
We will leave you at the city center in Bodrum or at the Harbour.
* This event can be arranged only on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays each at a different local market.
TİRE MARKET WALK WITH LUNCH - Day trip
If you are visiting Ephesus and have an extra day ;
Around 40 minutes away from Ephesus, the Aegean town of Tire stands at the very base of the Aydin mountains and has a number of worthy attractions.
Tire actually boasts the largest town market in the whole of Turkey, which takes place each Tuesday. The Old Quarter of Tire is full of interest, while the cuisine is not to be missed, with the city's delicious kebabs and meatballs being something of a local delicacy.
A DAY AT AN ECOLOGICAL FARM NEAR EPHESUS - Day Trip
If you are visiting Ephesus and have an extra day ;
In 1995 Mrs Gursel Tonbul dedicated the whole of her experience, accumulated knowledge, effort and time to the farm that bears her name. Since then, the farm produces a wide variety of plant and animal products organically and markets them both as wholesale and retail goods under the brand name of “Yerlim” (Turkish for local or indigenous). Indeed the farm serves as a model of large-scale multicultural organic production and food processing for the country as a whole. Furthermore the farm is not only a production center that provides work to regular laborers year-round; with its professional and well-informed staff, it is also a learning center for volunteer organizations and individuals. Hence for Turkish Flavours volunteers who come to visit, share and work with a staff that truly believes in the philosophy of organic agriculture, it promises an unmatched and worthwhile experience.
Activities at the Farm throughout the year
January (citrus harvest, vine and olive pruning); March /April(planting of summer vegetables); May (plum and green almond harvest); May,June 5,6 (food processing—cutting, drying, preservation, etc); June (apricot, peach and cherry harvest; vine shoot pruning, weed removal); June,July, August,September(watering, hoeing, summer fruit and vegetable harvest, processing); August (ripe almond harvest); September (pomegranate, walnut, quince harvest); September,October,November, December (olive harvest and processing); October, November(winter seed plantation); November, December(citrus harvest); December (winter vegetable harvest)

For details please contact us.  selin@turkishflavours.com

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