Turkey is our holiday destination of choice when we want a simple, no fuss trip, with good food, nice weather and seen as my parents live there, brilliant accommodation too. You might associate Turkey with kebabs and carpets but there’s much more to the foodie scene than meat on a stick. Though meat on a stick is yum! Below I’ll highlight some of the best bits from our recent visit…….

The mezze at the beginning of a meal in Turkey is often my favourite bit. Puffed up bread, caçik and a pomegranate molasses salad are the stuff of my dreams. Followed by a Pide, or a flatbread pizza, I’m a happy traveller. Feeding Steve was a slight issue, as despite the word gluten being the same in Turkish, the staff found it hard to understand. They could grasp that he didn’t want bread but that was about it. By the end of the trip though, and with my mothers help, we had learned how to ask for no gluten and dairy and for a plate of meat and chips. I even found the gluten free aisle in the local supermarket!

Our first night, we enjoyed a curry at my dads favourite curry house. They were brilliant at feeding Steve and even made him some roti breads. A lovely place called Massala Zone in Belek. Yes it’s only a curry, but it was a lovely curry and I was just happy Steve could eat something.

Mum and I had an afternoon at Zirve Pastane in Belek too. Where we ate allll the cakeys. San Sebastián cheesecake and a giant snickers bar went down well with copious çai and cappuccinos. We then followed that with a dinner of chicken schnitzel and Adana kebabs.

One morning we went for breakfast or Kahvalti. Warm bread, meat, cheese, honey, veggies and an omelette. I think a kahvalti might be my favourite type of breakfast, but then I’m a sucker for fresh bread. Again with lots of çai, this went down a treat. Steve enjoyed menemen, a dish of tomatoes and eggs mixed with spices. Very traditional.

My dad’s favourite thing to eat at this time of year in Turkey is a guveç. Or a Turkish stew. Not my sort of thing at all but they always look lovely. And they come in endless varieties. Chicken, liver, cheese, lamb….

Whereas my most favourite dish to have in Turkey is a Beyti Sarma. Ground lamb, wrapped in a lavash bread, served with yoghurt and spices. And it’s so pretty too! I recommend everyone try it at least once. I’ve heard since that Turkish takeaways back home do it too, so I need to find it and order immediately!

Steve enjoyed lots of kebabs, and I had one too on my last night. A lovely lamb shish at Deniz restaurant. Mum had yet another schnitzel (her go to dish) and dad another guveç. This restaurant has always been a favourite despite it being more expensive than others nearby. I adore the garlic prawns, but alas the gout is still affecting my life.

Now to desserts in Turkey….. Baklava is the obvious choice. And I love the stuff. Sado Baklava does the yummiest in the area. We’re talking Kadriye and Belek. Such a delicious variety and perfect to eat by the pool. If you love pistachios and pastry, you will love this.

We also got to try a new treat on this visit. Katmer is a phyllo pastry dish from Gaziantep, soaked in syrup and served hot. It was delicious!

So yes we ate a lot of lovely food. Steve was stuck mainly with meat and chips but mum had gluten free bread at home and with his golf he was still a happy bunny. I tried to branch out a bit but I love my Pide and Beyti Sarma. I think so long as I get them and a shed load of caçik then I’m a happy bunny too. I love that there’s other options like curries and cakes too, even if all the prices are sneaking up. I tend to judge a place on the price of its çai and 5tl seemed to be the new norm. I remember it being 1tl. Wow I’m old.

I hope you enjoyed the million photos. I don’t think I’ve ever put so many in one blog. Let me know which dish you like the look of!