Istanbul is a city as old as time and memory allow. A vital trading port and a part of the Silk Road for centuries.
When I first met Chef Basak, we had a lovely conversation in English, and she offered to take me to her favourite Fish place for lunch. The proprietor had smoked salmon made in-house, along with other incredible tastes. I knew she was the right partner for Istanbul. We chose Kadikoi (Kadikoy) as it is the culinary capital of the city with the widest variety of food that has incredible taste.
I still remember every bite. Our first tasting was one of the best days I had while in the city. She knew exactly where to go, what to try, and how to impress me. I am jaded…I have designed tours around the world, first for Secret Food Tours, and then for Eating Europe. I am hard to impress. Bite after bite, I was blown away. Only one discovery on this tour is mine, and I cheated and used my phone to find it, and that is the Manti stop pictured above. If you have never had Manti, you are in for a treat. This is pure grandma style, handmade, stuffed dumplings in a garlicky yogurt sauce. It is the one dish I crave the moment my plane touches down.
We took locals on the first tour, and they were blown away, saying that even after a lifetime in Istanbul, these were some of the best tastes they had found.
Alas, Turkey is no longer a cheap paradise; food costs have risen greatly, but hotels are still a bargain compared to Europe. What are you waiting for? Book a trip, and when you take your tour with Chef Basak, tell her I sent you. Chef Karl Wilder Berlin
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Istanbul does the food tour cover?
Kadikoy. It was chosen because it is the culinary capital of the city, with the widest variety of food and incredible taste.
What is manti?
Handmade stuffed dumplings in a garlicky yogurt sauce, pure grandma style. Chef Karl calls it the one dish he craves the moment his plane touches down in Istanbul.
How did The Chef Tours find its chef in Istanbul?
Chef Karl met Chef Basak in the city and she took him to her favourite fish place for lunch, where the proprietor smoked his own salmon. That meal settled it.
Is Istanbul still a cheap place to visit?
Not the way it was. Food costs have risen greatly in Turkey. Hotels are still a bargain compared with the rest of Europe.