This gallery contains 6 photos.
Everywhere you can have Turkish coffee. But should you? NO! There are certain things about a decent cup of Turkish coffee. The quality of the coffee, freshness, water, pot, heat source and the person preparing it. But there is another … Continue reading
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Very sorry to say, but Kuru Kahveci Mehmet Efendi’s coffees are stale, not fresh, flat, odorless. Why not buy the high quality beans and process it? I would definitely pay more for decent Turkish coffee. I realized I stopped buying and recommending their coffee long time ago. The oldest establishment of an industry, the one who did the firsts in Turkey, should not end like this. Turkish coffee is one of a many things we should protect by doing, producing the very best of it.
This is a first on Istanbul Food. I wrote this article before in non-sorry-but-no section. So I am changing the category to sorry but no. Will not buy again, not buying any, anyway.
Let’s see…
A couple of stairs, enter through the glass door, greeted by smiling faces, crowd is eating happily, yes again full, should I wait for a table at the terrace or anywhere, let’s see what is on the big board today… White table clothes and fresh flowers meet the eye before the feast.
You are very welcome to Kantin!
Kantin is a safe place! One of the two-three safest places to eat in the city, other than home. But for this kind of food, sorry to say, there is no opponent for Kantin. In Kantin the food is handled with respect, getting the most out of it.
The menu changes due to availability, seasons and mood. There is “Hergün” meaning everyday and “Bugün” meaning today menu written on a big board. If you are lucky to go there at spring, artichoke season, be sure to eat enginar pate, artichoke spread, smooth, kicking, flavors bursting in your mouth, served on a garlic rubbed toasted bread, with a little goat cheese, leaves of water cress… Bahar salatası, spring salad, is with the best mozzarella you can find in Turkey, shelled fresh broad beans, asparagus, is the answer to what a salad should be!
Çıtır, meaning crispy, is a little thin dough cooked in wood oven, topped with varieties of artichoke or vegetables or smoked salmon is the one thing you cannot get enough of. The bream also gets its share from the wood oven and comes with its crackling skin, filled with herbs. The grilled cutlet of chicken with sage, turkey marinated with honey, artichokes with parsley, everything…
Ayran is made with herbs, lemonade is old school. Turkish coffee is served with, well, I’ll leave this as a surprise…
Dükkan is down stairs where prepared food, desserts, bread, cheese and more delicacies are sold. If you are hungry after a days work, stop there to indulge yourself and pick our poison. One thing though! If you can choose! Desserts have a league of their own. Lemon cake, chocolate cake, carrot cake -one of my faves-, cherry jam and clotted cream filled tarts, chocolate and brandy filled mini bombs… all the remedy you need anytime of the day!
The food of Kantin is simple, clean, all about Istanbul and Aegean. Şemsa Denizsel is an indisputable kitchen goddess and one of the best chefs of Turkey.
Skillful cooking, peculiar tastes, sustainability, top notch ingredients combined with flavors comes up to clean tastes, simple, yet every bite notable, leaving you in a bliss.
Kantin not only fills your tummy, but also your soul!
Address: Akkavak sokak No.30, Nişantaşı, Istanbul
Phone: (212) 219 3114
Service Hours: Restaurant, Monday-Saturday 11.00am-8.30pm last order, Dükkan Monday-Saturday 10.30am-8.00pm
Istanbulfood maps
One of Istanbul’s touchstones, my one and only Baylan stands bold, against all the new trends of baking,reminding us that old school is always sound. Ask any Istanbul local, they always have a story to tell you about Baylan, and their memories from the good old days of Istanbul.
You feel like the place has been left untouched from old times, so magical, so nostalgic. I prefer to sit inside, where most of the people enjoy the mini cosy garden at the back of the patisserie.
They have many tastes that will please you but the signature dessert, but Kup Griye is the one! Made with vanilla ice cream, almonds, nuts, caramel sauce, chantilly cream and on top a lady finger, you order an espresso, then prepare to be amazed, cause the taste will take you to a sweet dream, while the hot, devil espresso tries to remind you where you are. The espresso is one of the best you can enjoy in Istanbul.
Macaroons, ice cream desserts, cherry liqueur filled home made chocolates, and my other favorite Paskalya Çöreği, the Easter bread, made with mahaleb, mastic gum, chemically balancing each other. That is the expertise.They also bake sweet and savory cookies, cakes, petits fours and the other treats.
Make time for this true Istanbul gem.
Address: Muvakkithane Caddesi, No:19, Kadıköy, Istanbul
Phone: (216) 346 6350
Service Hours: 8:30am – 8:00pm, everyday
Everyone has a secret hiding place, a little safe zone. I have a couple myself. This one is for Turkish coffee.
This place offers me the scene to the rush-ness of Kadıköy Food Market with a balance of nice, piping hot, dark roasted Turkish coffee. You may sit on the little chairs for a quick fix and watch the people passing by, hear the fish mongers loud and evocative voices and sip your delicious coffee.
Coffee is served with a mini Turkish Delight (lokum) and again a mini glass of cold water.
If you like the coffee you may buy dark or light roasted coffee, newly grounded.
Address: Serasker Caddesi No: 1A, Kadıköy Çarşısı
Phone: (216) 450 2870
Service Hours: 08:00am – 09:00pm / open everyday of the week