Home From Home: How to expand your horizons beyond kebab
When I came to London, I knew I’d miss the comforts my homeland had to offer. Since then, I have wandered around the city on the lookout for places that gave me a little taste of Turkey. Here are my favourites.
In the UK, Turkey is synonymous with the kebab. Ask anyone on the street their thoughts on Turkish Cuisine and I’ll bet my passport that’s the answer you’ll get. But diversity is in the heart of our country, and our cuisine and culture is rich with variety. Turkey is a country based on two continents, Asia and Europe, and this reflects how our food, styles and habits blend together like the notes of a symphony.
Eat like a sultan
Turkish Food is the continuation of the rich Ottoman Cuisine hence it saw progress behind the palace walls. Throughout the years it became a synthesis of Balkan, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Cuisines.
Cast a stone and you’ll likely hit one of London’s many Turkish restaurants. But authenticity is hard to come by, so you have to ask yourself, is this a true reflection of Turkish food? People here think that tasting a ‘döner kebab’ at the local chip shop amounts to a great knowledge of the cuisine. However, we have a fantastic and rich variety of dishes, including meze’s, which I believe are the most delicious part of our culture.
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To eat huge Turkish meals cheap and delicious you can always head to Green Lanes, a little Turkey in London. But if you fancy something a little different, I’d recommend Yosma, on Baker Street. This place offers a legitimate insight into a true Istanbul experience. Yosma is determined to buck the trend and has instilled a mentality of changing people’s perception of Turkish food in London. As you walk in, you’re greeted with an open kitchen where you can watch the white-coated chefs prepare a range of Turkish delights while you wait for your meal. They offer a fantastic range of mezes such as haydari — a Turkish yoghurt dip, hellim- halloumi or Turkish sausages, as well as mains, drinks and desserts.
Make sure you try the Manti- Turkish dumplings with meat, ayran- a drink made of yoghurt and kunefe- the glorious sweet cheese dessert!
I should not forget Raki, the magical drink made of aniseed, if you want to taste a bit of true Turkish Meyhane culture.
A world of coffee
Both Turkish Tea and Turkish Coffee hold an important place in a Turk’s heart. As long as Turkey existed, people have shared a passion for these traditional beverages. Piccadilly is home to, Kahve Dunyasi, one of Turkey’s most popular coffeehouses, which means ‘the World of Coffee’.
You’ll also find a splendid place to grab a glass of Turkish Tea in ‘Simit Saravi’ where you can find across various locations in London including Oxford Street. Pick up a ‘simit bagel’ for a wonderful compliment to your drink.
Bathe like a Turk
Turks know the answer to joy, relaxation and cleanliness. Turkish baths have always had an important place in the culture. Hammam is one of the well-known cultural heritages in the world and have been an indispensable part of socialising. With more than 100 Turkish bath centres in London, the choices are vast. My recommendation to gently heat and cool yourself in the peaceful atmosphere of a hammam is Pasha Spa, in Camberwell. You can feel the stress drain from your body on this ultimate day out. Make sure to bring your peshtamal (the Turkish hammam towel) along and be ready for the scrubbing of a lifetime.
Marks & Spencer, Harrods, Partridges and Selfridges are a heaven for Turkish products. And if you fancy challenging your culinary skills, then pick up a cook book from Waterstones or Daunt Books.
