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Chef Channon's Eclectic Kitchen

Eclectic Kitchen

  • About the Chef
    • Library
  • Services
    • Classes
    • Personal Chef
    • Culinary Consulting
  • Recipes
    • Conventional Recipes
    • Historic Recipes
  • Contact the Chef
  • Kitchen Stories
  • Big Book of Baklava
  • Find Me at Upcoming Events
  • Upcoming Classes
  • Turkey

A Journey to Turkey in search of Baklava: Merhaba from Istanbul!

March 4, 2023 · Channon Mondoux ·

A Journey to Turkey: Merhaba from Istanbul!

After a scare on the day of my flight which started with a cancellation notice, followed by some flight changes that ended with a 16 hour travel day, I arrived in Istanbul to join my friends Ted, Carla, and Angela, who were waiting at the apartment in Fatih, an ancient part of the city.

A Journey to Turkey in search of Baklava: Merhaba from Istanbul!

A Journey to Turkey in search of Baklava: Merhaba from Istanbul!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went for dinner at a shop around the corner, enjoyed some Rose Wine (that is rose, as in steeped with rosehips) and a beautiful dinner, followed by complimentary housemade baklava. What an incredible way to start this adventure!

A Journey to Turkey in search of Baklava: Merhaba from Istanbul!

A Journey to Turkey in search of Baklava: Merhaba from Istanbul!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Journey to Turkey in search of Baklava: Merhaba from Istanbul!    A Journey to Turkey in search of Baklava: Merhaba from Istanbul!

We followed our delicious dinner with a trip to one of the most famous dessert places in Istanbul, Haji Ismail Hakkizade Hafiz Mustafa, which was established in 1864.

Haji Ismail Hakkizade Hafiz Mustafa

Haji Ismail Hakkizade Hafiz Mustafa

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haji Ismail Hakkizade Hafiz Mustafa    Haji Ismail Hakkizade Hafiz Mustafa

Haji Ismail Hakkizade Hafiz Mustafa

I enjoyed dondurma for the first time. Rich and creamy and stretchy! Dondurma is an ice cream blended with orris root (aka sahlep), which makes it incredibly unctuous. I had a medley of all three flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, and Pistacio. The chocolate was particularly delicious.

Dondurma    Dondurma

My companion, Angela, had a sweet dish of Kunafa with Cheese, a baked shredded wheat with kayseri cheese which is soaked in syrup, tableside. It tasted delicious, too!

We walked the streets of Istanbul until much later than midnight, our feet taking us down the cobblestone streets past so many iconic buildings and structures, including the Egyptian obelisks that were brought to Istanbul over 2000 years ago. They are located in Hippodrome of Constantinople (today Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul, Turkey). Here is an image of one of them. I hope you enjoy my late night romp through this ancient city.

A Journey to Turkey in search of Baklava: Merhaba from Istanbul!    A Journey to Turkey in search of Baklava: Merhaba from Istanbul!

Egyptian obelisks    Egyptian obelisks

More coming!

Turkey

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I am a chef, educator, history buff, and I love recreating historical cuisine—especially baklava! Read More…

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