For our night in Ankara, we were effectively "turned loose" into the street to find our own meal. We wandered up the street a bit and found what appeared to be a "typical" Turkish restaurant. Once we entered and the proprietor found out we were tourists, he could not offer us enough food or hospitality.
Our starters. He insisted we have everything:
After dinner, they served tea from a traditional serving vessel. The water is heated from the bottom part:
Dessert. Some kind of deliciousness:
He spoke almost no English, we spoke almost no Turkish. But it was a grand time: he was quite proud of his establishment and his cooking (and by extension, Turkish traditions). It was the sort of chance encounter that leaves you hungry for more interaction with people.
I have heard that Turks are some of the greatest hosts on this planet. Maybe some day I'll get to travel there, if this silliness ever dies down.
ReplyDeleteAnon - I can only confirm that was the case, at least in our limited experience. Genuinely nice people and very proud of their culture. I could not recommend going there enough.
DeleteQuite the spread laid out, with the language difficulties how did payment for the meal proceed TB?
ReplyDeletePayment anywhere in the world has never been an issue, Nylon12. Almost everywhere accepts credit cards or local cash at this point (or in Cambodia and Vietnam, American Dollars).
DeleteI have stumbled upon this sort of situation more often than not when off the beaten path in a foreign country. The proprietors are wanting to get their eatery "out there" to the tourists and so provide stellar service. I still remember fondly the one we ate at in Greece that was directly across the street from the restaurant where the tour bus caters too. We were the only people in the entire restaurant, the one across the street was packed, and it was by far the best meal we had the entire trip. Best service too!
ReplyDeleteVery well could be, Ed. I suspect - based on the owner's demeanor - he was just a really nice guy who was very proud of his food and wanted to give Americans a taste of true Turkey.
DeleteEverything looks so tempting. Do you ever buy regional cookbooks as souvenirs? Or get some recipes to try at home?
ReplyDelete