Latest news with #Turkish-style
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
‘I've visited 40 European countries and this one is the most underrated'
An avid traveller who has visited up to 40 European destinations has revealed one of their favourite 'underrated' spots – and it's one of the cheapest to explore It's the time of year when a European city break or long getaway is on the cards for us Brits. The Uk is so close to a whole plethora of dreamy destinations and it can be hard to know which is the best to visit. Add on the often hefty price tag and it proves tricky to know where to explore within a reasonable budget. After travelling around the continent and visiting up to 40 destinations, a travel content creator, known online as @muzzabroad, has shared with fellow sunseekers what they believe to be " Europe's best hidden gem". A number of reasons lead to this view, so much so they even claim to "reconsider" their favourite overall destination on the continent. North Macedonia is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, often unexplored by holidaymakers, who seem to be missing out on its natural beauty, affordable activities and rich history. Bordering Brit hot spots like Greece and the ever-growing-in-popularity Albania, this country offers all the sunshine of these holiday destinations, minus the tourists and the price tag. The traveller claimed this country is super affordable compared to the likes of Southeast Asia, known for its cheap beer, food and transport. In fact, they wrote it was "one of the cheapest countries I've ever visited". In addition to this, a big perk about North Macedonia is its access to turquoise blue waters, despite being landlocked, with the likes of Lake Matka and Lake Orchid. The creator described it as having "the kind of landscape you would expect in Thailand, but with that European charm". A TripAdvisor review couldn't help but boast about their beautiful day spent discovering the lesser-known Lake Matka, in the country's capital, Skopje. They wrote: "This place is an amazing natural gem in Skopje. The combination of water and big cliffs, rocks, and forest in one place. Really breathtaking experience... the nature is more than words can describe." Outside of its natural beauty, you can uncover even more gems in Skopje by visiting the Old Bazaar. This is a traditional Turkish-style market made up of countless stalls and rich in history that dates back to the 12th century. For those wanting to see even more culture, the Stone Bridge is an impressive structure built over the Vardar River in the capital and originates from the Ottoman period. When it comes to eating and drinking your way around the country, your average beer price is at 120.00 Macedonian Denar, which converts to roughly £1.69 for a pint, according to Wise. Not only this, but the site reports that a meal for two people, made up of three courses at a mid-range restaurant, would only set you back roughly £21. Others who once visited the hidden gem of a country were quick to share their positive experiences in the comments of the now viral travel video. One user wrote: "Absolutely loved it! It was my bf's and my first vacation together, and the people were so incredibly nice! The food, architecture, nightlife and nature were absolutely amazing." Another traveller shared: "Absolutely loved it! It was my bf's and my first vacation together, and the people were so incredibly nice! The food, architecture, nightlife and nature were absolutely amazing."
Indian Express
03-08-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Pune's Mirza Ghalib Road: A forgotten ode to the great Urdu poet
Stepping out from the Mandai metro station, one is greeted with the full flavour of the markets of old Pune: vegetable sellers, food joints, and shops selling everything from crockery to fake flowers sprawling from the chowk outside the station. However, to an observant eye, an unremarkable signboard informs that the street straight across is named after one of India's most remarkable poets—Mirza Ghalib. Born in Agra in 1797, Ghalib moved to Delhi at a young age and lived there till his death in 1869. A poet at the royal court of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, Ghalib lived a testing life during tumultuous times. He witnessed the 1857 War of Independence firsthand and wrote heartbreaking accounts of his city's destruction. A humble memorial museum has been constructed at his haveli in Ballimaran at Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. But not many refer to the road by its official name. Prakash Gandhi's grocery shop, just a few steps away from the signboard, was established over 60 years ago. However, he was not aware that the street is named after Ghalib. 'People call this Shukrawar Peth, Nehru Chowk. And now that the metro has come we say opposite the metro station. This is a problem everywhere, even where I stay people don't know the name of the street. Subhash Jagtap, the owner of an 88 year-old pan shop at said, 'The older people know that this is called Mirza Ghalib street. The name has been there since forever. But no one refers to it that way anymore. Everyone names the chowks.' When asked if he knew who Ghalib was, Jagtap said he was a 'shayar of the Muslims'. During his time, Ghalib challenged orthodoxy through shers like like Hum ko maloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat lekin, Dil ke khush rakhne ko 'Ghalib' ye khayal acha hai (I am well aware about the reality of heaven but, for the heart's comfort the thought is surely good). According to an account, a British Colonel named Brown, after looking at Ghalib's Turkish-style turban, asked him if he was Muslim. Ghalib replied by saying, 'Half', and when Brown asked what that meant, Ghalib explained, 'I drink wine but I don't eat pork.' Countless ghazals by Ghalib, like Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi, have been sung by Jagjit Singh and popularised among the masses in India. Recently, the Hindi movie Metro In Dino adapted Ghalib's ghazal Aah Ko Chahiye Ek Umr Asar Hote Tak into a soundtrack sung by Papon. The Mirza Ghalib Chowk is present a few hundred meters down the street. Neither the local shopowners nor people at the nearby Masjid knew about members of the 'Mirza Ghalib Chowk Samaj Seva Committee' mentioned on the board, or had any contacts for them. 'The nameplate saying Mirza Ghalib Chowk has been here since before I was born. People know the name of this chowk. But I don't really know who he is. I'll have to call two-three previous generations of my family for anyone to know that,' says Suraj, owner of the chowk's corner shop Shree Rajhans, with a laugh. Public memory of Mirza Ghalib at the street named after him in Pune is symbolic of the state of so many of India's great poets and musicians: everpresent, but not always remembered. Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Turkish kebabs and desserts in Hyderabad
When the decision to dine at a place is based on its location, travel time and availability of parking, Kebapci in Banjara Hills in Hyderabad should fit the bill. It is an eatery that promises to serve Turkish-style kebabs, mandi and a wide range of house-made breads. However, if you are unsure and want to take the staff's suggestions, then you will be left with choices that range from mandi to adana rice kebab or a Turkish platter with rice. Irrespective of how much you love rice, at Kebapci, try all things beyond the favourite staple. Start with the range of flatbreads like pita to variations of Lahmacun and pide. Lahmacun and pide are types of Turkish pizza. They are not too doughy, and come without the uniform- tasting tomato sauce, and, most importantly, they look different. Pides look like boats with their elongated shape and raised edges. The distinct flavour comes from the use of onion seed of kaljeera. For the flavour reference, pide tastes like mathri with cheese and soft texture. Lahmacuns are round, soft breads. The toppings range from Turkish spice dust to bell pepper spread. I prefer pide, because spice-rubbed toppings is not my thing. Kebapci began in Chennai as a humble four-seater diner. Now it is a multi-city culinary brand. The menu features signature dishes like charcoal-grilled Adana kebaps, Urfa-spiced Mutton Biber Mandi, Turkish lentil soup, and house-made baklava. Kebapci also offers exclusives created for Hyderabad, available only on select days or by pre-booking. As the restaurant manager started recommending everything with rice, I requested him to let me decide my food. As a norm, I asked for hummus with flat pita, which came in a jiffy. That was a good start to my meal. I also took a sip of the insanely sweet Turkish tea. That ruled out dessert quota. I went on to choose dishes that looked new to Hyderabad. First was the cichan kebab. Turns out that this kebab is safe for toddlers and elders. It needs minimal chewing and is flavourful, yet, has no spice whatsoever. Cheese-burst meat patty would be a simple way to explain it. If you are one of those eaters who only want meats that are fried and spicy with chilli powder and oil, look elsewhere. Maybe, the Sultana Adana kebab. Or the flat sheek kebab that was juicy, meaty, greasily satisfying and somewhat spicy. To be inclusive, the menu has a few Indian non-vegetarian gravy dishes and vegetarian specials like mushroom melody and cream of paneer. I stuck to my kebabs and pide. Prices at Kebapci start from ₹250 onwards.
Eater
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Lilo in Carlsbad Earns San Diego's Only Michelin Star for 2025
The 2025 California Michelin Guide was announced last night in Sacramento's SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center to a crowd of chefs and restaurant professionals, with new stars awarded across the state. Carlsbad's Lilo from the Jeune et Jolie/Campfire team came home with the San Diego area's only star, while Atelier Manna in Leucadia was given a Bib Gourmand. No other awards were doled out for San Diego, though the one star for Lilo marks a significant moment for chef Eric Bost and partner John Resnick. Lilo opened a little over 10 weeks ago behind Bost and Resnick's casual all-day restaurant Wildland. Lilo serves 22 diners at a time across mostly counter seating that wraps around a fully open cooking area (there are also two four-top tables for larger groups) inside a stunning, architecturally compelling space. There, diners enjoy seven full courses with counterside flourishes by kitchen staff. Just outside, diners are escorted to lounge areas before and after their meal for pre-dinner snacks and post-prandial drinks. The multi-faceted tasting menu reflects a more ambitious dinner compared to Bost and Resnick's other Michelin-starred restaurant, Jeune et Jolie, hinting that Lilo could very well earn two or more stars in the coming years. In Leucadia, Atelier Manna opened in April 2023 from the former Jeune et Jolie chef Andrew Bachelier as a chic neighborhood cafe. With a 'food as medicine' approach serving overnight oats with ancient grains and Turkish-style poached eggs, the casual cafe earned the San Diego area's only new Bib Gourmand. The overall relatively subtle award action for San Diego raises questions about the focus of the guide on larger locales like San Francisco (which gained two new two-star restaurants) and Los Angeles (which gained two new three-star restaurants). The southern stretch of California now has six total Michelin-starred restaurants (five with one, and Addison with three). San Diego also came up empty in this month's James Beard Awards, with Animae chef Tara Monsod earning a finalist nod but losing out Best Chef: California to Kato's Jon across the border in Baja California's Valle de Guadalupe, the Michelin Guide for Mexico awarded stars for the first time to Olivea Farm to Table and Lunario. See More: San Diego Restaurant News
Eater
29-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
A Wood-Fired Turkish Kebaps Restaurant Lands in San Diego's Normal Heights
Ever since leaving the shores of Mersin along Turkey's Mediterranean coast for sunny San Diego, chef Seckin Sage Anlasbay has dreamed of opening a Turkish-style meyhane, a kind of wine bar or restaurant to host friends and family. After more than a decade working at restaurants such as Bottega Americana in San Diego and 3rd Cousin in San Francisco, followed by a successful run with a pizza catering company, Anlasbay opened Bosforo in Normal Heights on May 27. Named after the Turkish strait that separates Asia and Europe, Anlasbay's restaurant will highlight the cuisine of Adana, the home of Turkey's most hallowed kebap (meat skewers) tradition. Turkish interior designer Ilkem Naz Dinç worked with the Bosforo team to blend modern touches with traditional elements of meyhanes in Turkey. The all-white dining room is warmed by dark reds and leather upholstery at the bar, a wall lined with literature and vintage records, and Turkish lamps. The back bar adds a touch of Old World charm with a trio of arches featuring stone wall accents. The heart and soul of Bosforo's kitchen is a Mugnaini wood-fired pizza oven, ideal for Anlasbay's Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked at 750 degrees, lahmacun (the Turkish spelling of lahmajoun, a flatbread with a blend of minced meat and vegetables), and kebap (the Turkish spelling of kebab). The pizza dough at Bosforo consists of double-zero flour, topped with a tangy Bianco DiNapoli organic tomato sauce for standards like pepperoni, cheese, or mushroom pizzas. The lone Turkish innovation on the pizza menu is the Anatolian, featuring keyseri pastrami (pastirma) from Central Anatolia, Turkish sausages, and white cheese imported from Turkey. While the Anatolian teases Turkish flavors, Anlasbay's lahmacun is an unadulterated taste of home. Three wood-fired thin-crusted lahmacun come in an order, topped with a delicate layer of a minced blend of beef and vegetables. Slices of tomatoes, onions, sprigs of parsley, and sumac come on the side to dress the lahmacun before rolling them up for eating. 'This is a one and only Turkish experience in southern California,' says Anlasbay, who noted the more substantial Turkish dining options in New York City, Miami, and San Francisco. Bosforo's elevated menu begins with cold and hot mezze, offering a unique approach to Turkish cuisine. From the cold mezze, standouts include an herbed hummus with beetroot, spicy eggplant atom (eggplant puree), and antep ezme, a fragrant salad of tomatoes, peppers, and onions, which works as a complement to the kebap. Hot starters like Mersin-style crispy potato fries to dip in green yogurt blended with herbs, and Adana içli köfte — minced meat croquettes — home in on the sense of place at Bosforo. Kebaps are cooked inside the restaurant's wood-fired oven and consist of hand-minced beef, şiş kebap (beef chunks), and chicken kebap made of chicken thigh. All kebaps are served with fire-roasted tomatoes and peppers, and sumac–dressed onions atop toasted lavash. For vegans, there's a Beyond Meat skewer. Another standout on the menu is the grilled fish, prepared with sea bass sourced from Turkey. No Turkish meal is complete without coffee to sip while enjoying desserts like sütlaç, oven-baked rice pudding, or pistachio ice cream. On the bar menu, find wine and local craft beer, which are staples of meyhanes. For a modern twist, there are Turkish-inflected cocktails. Midnight in Istanbul features a base of vodka and Turkish coffee sweetened by sutlac (rice pudding) and Kahlua, while the gin-forward Antalya Spritz mixes in raki (Turkish anise), elderflower, and lemon. Food from cultures like Greece, Turkey, Palestine, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, and Jordan continues to be popular dining options in Southern California, with no signs of slowing down, and Bosforo promises to bring a taste of Adana to Normal Heights. 'I've been chasing this for 15 years, opening a restaurant that brings the food from my home,' says Anlasbay. 'It's been a long journey.' Bosforo is located at 3201 Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. It's open Sunday to Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sign up for our newsletter.
