🎶 Istanbul was Constantinople. Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople. Why did Constantinople get the works? That’s nobody’s business but the Turks. 🎶

I’m in Istanbul (not Constantinople)!! And Laura and Jan came over from Houston😍❤️🙋🏼 FRIENDS! MY PEOPLE!!!! YAYYYY.

bosphorous strait

I was soooo excited to get to Turkey. The food was part of my excitement, but it has honestly been so much better than I even expected it to be.

I. Want. To. Eat. Everything.

edmund and his turkish delight

I first heard of Turkish Delight when I read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe… “Turkish Delight please, your Majesty.”… the book totally made it out like it was laced with crack. Well, it’s not. But, another Turkish treat – BAKLAVA – IS. I’m obsessed.

(pistachio) baklava love

There are two main kinds – pistachio and walnut. I guess pistachio is more traditional, but I prefer the walnut a bit more (although they are both amazing crack-filled pieces of heaven). The pastry shops here bring me almost as much excitement as Christmas morning (major child-like excitement; I really just can’t help it).

Baklava is: phyllo dough, chopped nuts, butter, (maybe) cinnamon, (maybe) cloves, and a syrup made of sugar, water, and honey.

baklava love

koska baklava love

rolling phyllo dough

I like the way Turkish Delight looks more than the way it tastes. It is: sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, rosewater, and some other combination of ingredients, depending on the type you want.

turkish delight

turkish delight

turkish delight

I bought some Turkish Delight from a booth in the Egyptian Bazaar called Ganik. The owner was Mikhail, and he was a hoot; some of his quotes:

“Where are you from? Oh, America!?? I love America! Look at these pictures of me with customers from Philadelphia… they come here every single year and buy my Turkish Delight. I’m famous in America!”

“I love the American accent, it’s my favorite. It sounds slow and casual.” (absolutely implying that we sound like bumpkins)😄

(when he’s cutting huge sample pieces for us to try): “You don’t want to try the whole thing? Oh, you’re worried about the kilos, aren’t you?” (then cuts another huge piece and gives it to me to eat)😂

Mikhail was one of those fun, loads and loads of energy type people you just want to be around. I couldn’t not buy Turkish Delight from the guy. They vacuumed sealed the box for me, so hopefully shipping it home won’t be an issue!

Mikhail @ Ganik @ Egyptian Bazaar

Mikhail, Laura, my TD flavors… pomegranate+pistachio, saffron+pistachio, nutella+pistachio, and nutella+hazelnut

Another rockin’ dessert we tried was Katmer. It is: phyllo dough, clotted cream (or kaymak), butter, sugar, pistachios. Unlike anything I’ve tasted before. Delicious.

Katmer

I have more desserts to try, and much more baklava to eat before I leave Turkey! Here are some other deliciousnesses we’ve partaken in…

meze – bread, yogurt, hummus, salad

iskender kebap

cheese plate, bread, olives, dolmas

baba ghanoush, hummus, pickles (Syrian restaurant)

bread, yogurt, lentils, butter, cashews, fruit & veggies, dried fruit, jar of honey, cream cheese, chocolates, eggs and toothpaste = $16 from local market store

Next up: Whirling Dervishes