Namlı Gurme in Karaköy, Istanbul is the best breakfast joint in the whole of Turkey. Apparently rated number one by dozens of newspapers, articles and the culinary know-it-alls of the region, Namlı Gurme more than lived up to its name. Ranked above all the ritzy hotels, and other breakfast places throughout the country, it had a lot to live up to.
The breakfast was divine. Pass on religion, bring on the breakfast. Ok, bad joke. But seriously, I stumbled upon this place on my way to the ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul on Saturday morning. It looked pretty crowded and the brightness of the colors combined with blocks upon blocks of endless mounds of cheese piqued my interest. So, when I arrived back on the Asian side at the end of the day after attending a full-day English Language Teaching conference, I walked into this little slice of paradise. They also have a selection of cooking ingredients that are rare in Turkey. Cheddar cheese, soy sauce, wing sauce. These things are hot commodities for those of us with an American craving every now and again. Saturday night I will blog about later, because its amazingness requires a whole new blog. But come Sunday morning, half awake, needing coffee and a good jolt to my day, we decided to wait behind the hordes of other Turks in line at Namlı Gurme. About 20 people long, plus or minus, we waited in line while we were served complimentary fresh burek and chai. It screamed good breakfast food. If ever food could be described as sexy, it would be this food. Try this on for size: a platter of honey, honey comb and the thickest cream you could ever eat. Just sweet enough to eat without dying. What do you put honey and thick cream on you may ask? Nothing my dear! Nothing at all! Bread, if you wish. Heck, slather it on some salami slabs. Me? Just me, the cream, the honey and a fork. The rest is history. I may or may not have had an affair with this breakfast. The meat counter is pretty impressive. Meats upon meats upon varieties of meats. You wait in line, choose your breakfast and they bring it to your table. Your options? Ohh...anything. Specifically? Any kind of egg or egg and sausage combination you desire. Though, if you visit, you must indulge in the kahvalti plate (breakfast plate) full of different cheeses of all color and texture. We had a soft, delicate cheese, a hearty cheddar, a swiss slice and it was overflowing with fresh olives, perfectly snappy cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. I could go on for pages, really. But if you go to Istanbul, you must go to this fantastic place.
Tips: bring someone who speaks Turkish if you can (though they were so accomodating to us!)
If you go on Sunday morning, be prepared to wait. It is worth it.
Bring your appetite. Veg-heads, be wary. It is meat heaven. Though they have vegetarian options. It is mildly pricey. We paid about 90TL for the three of us...that's about $22 a person...for the best breakfast in Turkey?!?! Steal of a deal, I say. Afiyet olsun arkadaşlar!
The breakfast was divine. Pass on religion, bring on the breakfast. Ok, bad joke. But seriously, I stumbled upon this place on my way to the ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul on Saturday morning. It looked pretty crowded and the brightness of the colors combined with blocks upon blocks of endless mounds of cheese piqued my interest. So, when I arrived back on the Asian side at the end of the day after attending a full-day English Language Teaching conference, I walked into this little slice of paradise. They also have a selection of cooking ingredients that are rare in Turkey. Cheddar cheese, soy sauce, wing sauce. These things are hot commodities for those of us with an American craving every now and again. Saturday night I will blog about later, because its amazingness requires a whole new blog. But come Sunday morning, half awake, needing coffee and a good jolt to my day, we decided to wait behind the hordes of other Turks in line at Namlı Gurme. About 20 people long, plus or minus, we waited in line while we were served complimentary fresh burek and chai. It screamed good breakfast food. If ever food could be described as sexy, it would be this food. Try this on for size: a platter of honey, honey comb and the thickest cream you could ever eat. Just sweet enough to eat without dying. What do you put honey and thick cream on you may ask? Nothing my dear! Nothing at all! Bread, if you wish. Heck, slather it on some salami slabs. Me? Just me, the cream, the honey and a fork. The rest is history. I may or may not have had an affair with this breakfast. The meat counter is pretty impressive. Meats upon meats upon varieties of meats. You wait in line, choose your breakfast and they bring it to your table. Your options? Ohh...anything. Specifically? Any kind of egg or egg and sausage combination you desire. Though, if you visit, you must indulge in the kahvalti plate (breakfast plate) full of different cheeses of all color and texture. We had a soft, delicate cheese, a hearty cheddar, a swiss slice and it was overflowing with fresh olives, perfectly snappy cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. I could go on for pages, really. But if you go to Istanbul, you must go to this fantastic place.
Tips: bring someone who speaks Turkish if you can (though they were so accomodating to us!)
If you go on Sunday morning, be prepared to wait. It is worth it.
Bring your appetite. Veg-heads, be wary. It is meat heaven. Though they have vegetarian options. It is mildly pricey. We paid about 90TL for the three of us...that's about $22 a person...for the best breakfast in Turkey?!?! Steal of a deal, I say. Afiyet olsun arkadaşlar!
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