Great Country - great food
With a culture that is fiercely proud of its heritage, holidays in Turkey are a history lover's dream. With buildings dating back many thousands of years, sandy beaches and incredible scenery there is something to suit all interests, whether you're looking for a trip lounging by the beach or soaking up the culture. Modern Turkey offers all kinds of luxurious accommodation for the discerning traveller, whilst restaurants and cafes provide a rich choice of traditional Turkish dishes.
Cuisine in Turkey has influences fro many corners, employing ingredients such as aubergines, onions, lentils and beans to form the basis of the main dishes. With a wide array of locally available produce, Turkish food tends to be incredibly varied and full of flavours, leading it to be compared with Chinese and even French cuisine. Nuts such as pistachios, chestnuts, hazelnuts and almonds are also popular. As a general rule, people in Turkey prefer not to eat in restaurants but cook for themselves, enjoying the taste of freshly prepared food. There are, however a number of restaurants serving the kinds of dishes reserved for special occasions. Nowadays, there are numerous food venders selling products we think of as 'fast food'. These doner meat and kofte dishes are, however, traditional Turkish fare, making them an intrinsic part of all Turkey holidays.
Alcohol is readily available in Turkey, despite the fact that many residents are practicing Muslims. There are local wines and beers on offer for anyone who really wants to experience local produce, though some of the most common beverages available in Turkey are black tea and coffee. Black tea is brewed in two-piece pots, joined one on top of the other. The upper pot contains a strong and bitter tea, whilst the one below holds boiling water with which to dilute the mixture above. Coffee is also served without milk and can be enjoyed bitter or with added sugar.
Hotel holidays are not all that Turkey has to offer these days. Hiring Villas in Turkey is a wonderful way to enjoy more of the local communities while still benefitting from luxurious, private accommodation. Self-catering villas in Turkey also provide a unique opportunity for anyone looking to try out some typical Turkish recipes. Whether you want to recreate a traditional Turkish breakfast or are looking to try out some familiar recipes using exciting new ingredients, the well-equipped kitchens of Turkey's villas will enable you to do so. Why not visit some of the spice markets, buy some fresh local produce, and head home to relax in the tranquil surroundings of one of the many villas in Turkey available for rent?
Travel to Turkey is slowly becoming more convenient. With international airports located at Istanbul in many holiday areas now,Turkey is easily accessible from all over the world. Whether you're looking for a holiday of sandy beaches, ancient architecture, fantastic food, or a combination of all three, then Turkey has something to offer. This ancient culture offers a unique look at the history of both Europe and the Middle East, and provides visitors with a culinary feast they won't soon forget. Holidays in Turkey make an unusual change from a trip to the South of France and will provide an unrivalled cultural experience.
The three Turkish titans - coffee, backlava and kebab
If you are someone who travels based on culinary adventure, once place you may want to add to your list of future travel destinations is Turkey. They have a wide variety of food that makes up their cuisine. There is no one item that sets Turkish food apart from the rest like with pasta in Italy or sauce in France. However the food from the Turkish culture is very good.
One common item that many people can distinguish as a Turkish food is baklava. Baklava is a sweet pastry. Within this flaky pastry are chopped nuts. Baklava is sweetened with various syrups or honey. Baklava is a definite treat.
Another very popular Turkish cuisine is kebobs. The popular Turkish kebob is called döner kebobs. This Turkish dish is made of lamb meat. However, sometimes chicken is also used. The common version of the döner kebob is marinated lamb meat stacked onto a skewer in the shape of an inverted cone. It is then topped with fat, usually tail fat. Sometimes tomatoes and onions are also added to the top of the kebob to drip juices over the meat.
Some of the national drinks available in Turkey include Turkish coffee, Turkish tea, ayran, shira, salgam, sahlep, and boza. Turkish coffee is thick and dark. However, the sugar contents depend. Sometimes it is served without sugar. Other times it is served with a lot of sugar. Also, for alcohol drinkers, raki is a popular alcoholic beverage in Turkey. Raki translates to mean lion's drink because you must be as strong as a lion to drink it.
Tasty and healty dishes
When one thinks of Turkish food, some might recall last week's drinking session finishing off with a late night greasy Kebab. That late night stop is nothing like the culinary delights that one will experience when visiting Turkey. In fact the Ottoman Empire passed laws mandating that food should be served fresh and this has been followed through to now.
The Mediterranean diet is considered to be one of the healthiest in the world. Ingredients that are used in Turkey are fresh daily with a range of seasonal offerings as the climate is accommodating to a variety of supplies. Turkish staples include vegetables, fish and lamb with generous amounts of olive oil. The diverse climate allows Turkey to grow and produce fresh tomatoes, olives, melons, peppers, wheat, tea, etc. The surrounding seas are abundant in fish - as any boat excursion will testify. The grouper fish makes an excellent dish with a mild but distinct flavour - cross between a halibut and sea bass.
Turkish dishes include selection of mezze platters; these are quite like Spanish Tapas - including a range of hot and cold starters, either served on one or several plates. These include Spicy tomato salsa (Ezme), Carrot with Mint and garlic, yogurt, cucumber and mint (Haydari), stuffed vegetables (Dolma), Calamari, Halumi, Tahin. And of course the pita bread does justice to hummus, and the many colourful pastes of chilli and Tapenade. Turkish mezze starters are light enough to carry the flavours through and allow room for a main dish and possibly a dessert of baklava.
Having such a rich olive oil influence on the diet, it is no wonder that Turkish natives have a low heart attack rate and that their skin is soft and supple. The freshness of the food ensures that the body is always well nourished with vitamins. Dishes served near or on the coast line, such as Kalkan or Oludeniz are primarily based on seafood; this has been well established by scientists as the healthier choice of food.
Turkey's surrounding crystal clear ocean water and its' beneficial lifestyle is becoming more acknowledged - resulting in a sharp increase of the demand for Turkish property for sale. Westerners are beginning to recognise Turkey as an up and coming preference of residence. Advancement in hospitality, sided with a healthy lifestyle and the affordability of property for sale in towns such as Kalkan are making Turkey the choice of both holiday and retirement destinations. The coastal towns sport amazing views over the oceans and combined with the gourmet on offer, it's an easy choice - both for holiday and long time retirement.
The proximity of the sea ensures freshness of fish and in all the coastal towns, and hillside Kalkan villas are for sale at very affordable prices - these are half the expense of damp and tiny European dwellings.
Many restaurants will offer an al a carte menu alongside the fresh catch of the day. The fresh catch is ready for perusal and choice by weight. There can be no fresher food more affordable and enriched with essential vitamins then from a Turkish town.