Çiya Sofrası is a renowned Istanbul restaurant focused on rescuing forgotten recipes from all over Anatolia. Behind the gastronomic project stands chef Musa Dağdeviren, known from the Chef’s Table series. He collects culinary treasures directly in remote Turkish villages and brings them back to the plate.
Balık ekmek is a popular Turkish street food dish. It consists of grilled fish placed inside half a loaf of bread. This specialty belongs inseparably to Istanbul and the shores of the Bosphorus. The main ingredient is fatty mackerel and soft bread. The taste is complemented by fresh onion, lettuce, and lemon juice. Preparation takes place on grates right on the street before the eyes of customers.
Boza is an ancient fermented grain beverage with a thick consistency resembling thin pudding. It has a typical light beige color. It is served cold in a glass, the surface is always sprinkled with ground cinnamon. Due to its thickness, you will often eat it with a spoon.
Istanbul Airport (IST) is Turkey’s main international airport, with a capacity of 200 million passengers per year. For a more comfortable layover, passengers can visit the iGA Lounge, which is open 24/7. The lounge offers amenities such as a buffet, bar, and showers. The buffet includes Turkish appetizers, salads, filled rolls, and sweets, while the bar serves beer, wine, and cocktails. Non-alcoholic beverages, coffee, and Turkish tea are freely available. The lounge boasts a view of the bustling terminal, a modern interior, and plenty of seating.
The in-flight menu on long-haul flights is an important part of the overall experience of a long journey. The menu served on Turkish Airlines flights provides a pleasant culinary experience. The complete menu is included in the ticket price with Turkish Airlines.
Even on short flights, Turkish Airlines offers an outstanding gastronomic experience in economy class. In my case, dinner included Turkish köfte with rice, sautéed vegetables, and a bean salad, accompanied by a mascarpone dessert with forest fruits, a freshly warmed bread roll, butter, and jam. The breakfast menu featured scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a toast with kaşar cheese and turkey ham, muesli with milk and fruit, Turkish cheeses, and olives. A selection of non-alcoholic beverages, wine, beer, coffee, and tea is available with the meal. The in-flight menu is included in the ticket price.
Turkish Airlines offer an in-flight menu even on shorter flights, included in the ticket price. Breakfast often includes scrambled eggs, a roasted tomato, a warmed bread roll, a selection of cheeses, olives, cucumber, brownies, cherry jam, butter, and bottled water. Hot beverages, juices, wine, or beer are also available. The afternoon menu on my flight featured chicken curry with rice and grilled pepper, hummus with an olive, chocolate mousse with whipped cream, and other accompaniments like bread, butter, and jam. The portions are large, and the quality of the food is high for an airline.
