I'd like to do what I do best while traveling... Eating! Since it is my first time in Turkey, I can't really make a list of top restaurants/where to eat since I didn't get a chance to eat at many many restaurants yet. But who knows maybe some day, I'll be back just for a gastronomy escapade :)

So what to eat in Turkey? In no particular order:

Shawarma- look at that fat dripping off the chicken shawarma. Street food at its finest!

pita bread

hummus for the pita bread

Turkish Pizza

I heard that they call this a lamp! Funny thing is that when I got mine with chicken, I hammered too hard so pieces of clay from the pot went inside my food. Eager beaver!

Lamb kebab- Turkey is all about lamb and beef. Because I ordered chicken, which was not up to par, I finally forced myself to try this lamb. It was very tasty like thai fish cakes. It actually looks like one, too.

Fish Soup- I made it a point to try a Fish Restaurant in Istanbul at Furreya Galata near Galata Tower.

Sea basssssss

The sea bass was definitely yummy @ Furreya Galata

Stuffed Squid- On every trip, I always choose one fine dining spot. The 360 restaurant in Istanbul atop an apartment building didn't disappoint.

Octopus- Succulent with Asian flavors plus a good view of Istanbul on top of 360 restaurant.

Stuffed fish in vine leaves @ 360 Restaurant

Turkish burger with fries

Gota gulp all those calories down with fresh pomegranate juice!

Are you done yet with multiple gatherings on the same day? I know I am. I'm pooped out from eating too much on a given day. Now, I'm looking forward to going on a clean, healthy diet and the idea of sun, shine and sand courtesy of my mother (is)land very very soon. 

Turkey #1

Shrimp with angel hair pasta

Spot the leche flan with turkey #2!

Hyssop leaves - According to theepicentre.com, Hyssop is best known by its reference as a Biblical herb, where its ancient use as a cleansing herb is alluded to in the scriptures, ‘Purge me with Hyssop, and I shall be clean.’ In Israel. hyssop is used in place of thyme to make za'atar. In Catit Restaurant, hyssop topped off a flavorful, creamy dessert.

Seafood kubbeh for a business lunch.

Hrayme. Fish just the way I like it.

Ragulach! Wow!

Spices to fill up your kitchen.

Malabi dessert to close my appetite.

Shakshuka - Of all the terms above, shakshuka is the one that I'm most familiar with. I ordered this breakfast meal when I was in LA and have been looking for a restaurant in San Francisco that serves it to no avail! Shakshouka or shakshuka is a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, and onions, often spiced with cumin.

I was running out of time in the city but really wanted to try authentic shakshuka so I got one at the Tel Aviv airport instead on the day of my departure. #foodbloggersecret

Shaksuka not from Israel.

Wanted to try Doctor Shashuka in Old Jaffa but it was closed :(

Carved to perfection.

Turkey shawarma not as flavorful as chicken.

Take your pick.

The color of the rainbow.

Nuts galore.

Don't know exactly what she's making but looks interesting. (Do you know?)

Cappuccino Decaf

Watch out for more gastronomic (mis)adventures in Israel!

Night skyline in Tel Aviv.

Unlike people photography in which everyone avoids to look like a fried egg thus the need for mattifying, non-spf makeup, grease is widely accepted in the world of food photography. The greasier the better, right? Food stylists even add more shine with the common egg wash trick.

On the photo above (turkey bacon), the fat was still sizzling by the time I took it out of the oven- the best time to take a shot with pure, natural greasy turkey bacon no need for touch ups. Oozing oil o la la. 

Desserts definitely come first. What I found most intriguing in Turkey are their variety of sweets that you can all find in one roof at the Spice Bazaar. The shops sell practically the same stuff- colorful myriad of spices, baklava, dried fruits and such, but this is the place to be not only for food lovers but also for shopaholics who'd like to skip the Grand Bazaar, which is nothing special especially to those who have been to bargain markets in China or in any other "tianges".

facade of the Spice Bazaar

There are so many things to choose from, but you can always choose wisely if you come prepared. Here are the list of the MUST buy things in the Spice Bazaar:
1. Spices- saffron and vanilla bean (not pre-packaged please). One shop tried to rip us off by selling a small jar of saffron for more than a $100, but in another shop the price was only about $20 for the same grams.






2. Be a tourist and try the baklava. Find one that still looks moist or better yet kept in a container. Most of the desserts are laid out in the open, but the stuffy air in the bazaar doesn't help in keeping them fresh for a long duration.

Since this is a place where free tasting is encouraged, by all means do so. There are many intriguing desserts you can try, such as the lokum and nougat, but as I said before buy wisely since most of them can be bought in the grocery for a cheaper price. Turkey is also known for its pistachios which explains why they have many pistachio flavored desserts.

samples galore!

If you want to be adventurous, you can also try the the Turkish viagra. Do let me know if it is effective since upon further inspection of some pre-packaged viagra, they were already expired (lol!). Curiosity kills the cat after all :)


  
  

Pigeons greeted me as I started my morning walk at the revitalized Venice Beach. The early-bird surfers from afar took the waves with much aplomb. As I watched spray painters giving a graffiti wall fresh paint and skate boarders practicing in Venice's seaside skate park, I noticed the refreshed vibe at the boardwalk.

A few minutes away is Dudley Market, a wine bar with emphasis on seasonal seafood tucked away in an unassuming part of Venice Beach. The night drive on the one-way street to Dudley Market was a misadventure at first, but I found a parking spot at the busier Pacific Avenue street. After a safe, short walk to the restaurant, I rewarded myself with their fresh catch of the day, which surprisingly came in a colorful plate of melt-in-your mouth sashimi. 

Without doubt, the revitalized Venice Beach is eager to welcome back tourists and locals to experience its eccentric, surfing vibes anew.