Experience The Food Side Of Istanbul
Since COVID-19 pandemic started, probably like most of you, I missed travelling the most. I keep on remembering my past travels both in Turkey and outside. Reminiscing about these travels also reminds me of the wonderful local dishes I’ve tasted, the warm and hospitable people I have met and the stories I have collected. The […]
A very small step for humankind but a huge step for me…I made cheese. Well, I’ve made it ages ago but realized that I have neglected to tell you how I’ve made it. It is the simplest kind that there is but still I may have taken it up a notch with my additional flavorings. […]
There are quite a few unique foods and drink combinations in Turkish culinary culture. These may come as second nature to a native Turk but from a foreigners’ perspective, they need to be explained to make sense. One of those unique combinations is dürüm, the quintessential meat wrap; and ayran, the ubiquitous yogurt drink that […]
Culinary world is a high ego environment. I have witnessed many people from every aspect of the culinary profession who thinks they are better and know more than the others. I believe the opposite. I believe that there is always someone better than me and I can always learn more. Thinking there is always someone […]
I don’t consider myself an avid television watcher. Except for the important news on local channels, informational or documentary-type programs on Japan’s national channel, and my favorite detective dramas broadcasted on foreign channels/ I especially don’t watch competition programs or game shows. The main reason why I don’t watch them is that I don’t gain […]
Between my master’s classes and teaching, I got quite busy and neglected to update my beloved blog. Well here I am, wanting to share the lovely pasta dish I made with some leftover ingredients at hand: a sad little eggplant (I usually don’t buy ingredients out of season but these were so fresh and small […]
In the midst of my teaching and master’s classes, I sometimes relax in front of the TV and usually watch NHK World, the international version of Japanese national TV channel. There are great programs related to food and travel. At night though before going to bed, I watch a couple of episodes of “Suits” on […]
Every year without a fail, I get depressed on New Year’s Day. I don’t really know why, but no matter where I am or how wonderful I had spent the previous night, this has been my routine. I guess I get sad when things are over and ‘a year’ may be one of those things. […]
I love writing in my new blog but I am in the midst of trying to finish my master’s classes this semester that I barely have any free time. Hopefully when February rolls around I will be done with classes and will start my thesis, hoping that might give me a bit more free time […]
I get inspiration from recipes I read or I hear from my friends and relatives. I also get inspired from my food idols whom I follow on instagram, some I know personally, like dear Karima Moyer whom I had the pleasure of meeting during this year’s Dublin Gastronomy Symposium. I have been closely following her […]
Hello! I am Banu. I am a culinary expert and aspired food writer.
Welcome to my blog!
Homemade grape and apple vinegar.
#spooninmypocket #homemadevinegar #applevinegar #grapevinegar
Pastırma is one of my favorite breakfast items especially with eggs or just cooked with tomatoes. I sometimes order my pastırma from Kastamonu but in İstanbul I buy them from @cankurtarangida in the Spice Market or @arzumsarkuterigurme in Kadıköy market.
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What is your favorite way to eat pastırma? Please comment below👇
#spooninmypocket #pastırma #breakfast #charcuterie
When you can’t go to the Black Sea region for pide, let the pide come to you @pidesunn
#spooninmypocket #pide #karadenizpidesi #samsun #bafrapidesi #kadıköymoda
When I am in the villages of Kozak area all my food turns out to have green color with shades of yellow💛💚💛💚
#spooninmypocket #greenvegetables #mostlyvegetables #mostlyvegetarian #plantbased #kozakyaylası #eatyourveggies
If you happen to buy beets with leaves on, do not throw away the leaves. Just chop and sautee them with some sliced onions, season with salt and pepper and you have beautiful looking veggies for dinner or add some eggs and eat it for breakfast.
#spooninmypocket #nowastecooking #zerowaste #beetleaves #stirfry #eatyourveggies #mottainai
Wonderful memories of shooting BBC’s RSVP Travel Abroad with lovely @juliebensman
It was a fun day fews years ago #tbt
📸credit @aaclar
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#spooninmypocket #bbc #travelabroad #funshootingday #blastfromthepast #kadikoymarket #foodtour #istanbul
During long and cold winter nights, as you are curled up on your couch all warm and fuzzy, all of a sudden you hear the sorrowful, touching voice of the boza seller trying to make a living by selling this traditional concoction out in the cold…
This gets me every time…hearing the boza-seller’ voice really makes me depressed and the only way to remedy this depression is to grab my coat, run outside and try to catch him before he leaves my neighborhood.
Boza is a fermented millet drink that is best enjoyed with leblebi (roasted chickpeas) and cinnamon.
Cheers to you boza-man. I hope you will sell all your boza tonight and every night🙏
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#spooninmypocket #boza #fermenteddrinks #streetfood #streetvendors #istanbul
Simple dinner tonight…but before hand some aperatifs alongside roquefort cheese, murabba (the quince paste I made the other day) and my favorite crackers of my ancestors’ from Beypazarı, a.k.a. Beypazarı kurusu.
Cheers and may the new year bring you all health, joy, luck and delicious food🙏
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#spooninmypocket #roquefort #beypazarıkurusu #newyearseve #aperatif
Time to enjoy the cookies I baked a few days ago….
First I need to make some tea🫖
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#spooninmypocket #newyearscookies #chocolatechipcrunchcookies #mintswirlcookies #teatime