Döner at Özçelik Aspava

Ridiculous!  I have posted about their döner before, but I feel it needs to be done again.

We ordered döner, the rest you see is complimentary.

Mixed green salad, with a pomegranate molasses dressing.

Fresh French Fries with a homemade tomato sauce.

Cacık with sumac and mint on top.

  

And the pièce de résistance : Döner.  I had already had a bite before I took this photo.  I couldn’t wait!

The money shot, thinly sliced which had been roasted on a rotating spit.  Served with homemade tomato sauce and sliced onions rolled in a fresh soft lavaş.

  

This is my favorite place to eat in Ankara. 

Recent Food Adventures

Bulent and I have gone out a few times and this is one of our favorite places.  We usually split a lahmacun and a doner durum wrap with sauce and onions in it. 

 

The durum doner wrap usually comes with four pieces.  One had already been eaten before I was able to get the camera out.

A close up of the wrap, saucy, onion-y, meaty goodness.

Next up…Lady Thigh Meatballs—tasty!

A Feast

Tomorrow I am making brunch. And it will be fabulous. Why you might ask? Because my love found me bacon. That is right, BACON--From a PIG!! I am not sure how he did it, and don't really care. Tomorrow we will have eggs, bacon, and pancakes with MAPLE SYRUP. I smuggled the maple syrup into the country in Bulent's luggage. I am literally salivating as I write this. Big gobs of spit. I look like a St. Bernard. Next...Ham dinner. I don't know how I can get ham here though. I may have to settle for canned ham. Do they make that? I have no idea. Is there a difference between canned ham and SPAM? I have no idea, but I will research to fill this huge gap in my knowledge.

Green Bean Salad-Turkish Style

This dish has become one of my favorites this summer. It is an “olive oil” dish, typically means it is served cold. It makes a great light summer meal, with fresh bread to dip in the juices. The technical name is

which translates into Fresh Beans with Olive Oil.

1 pound of fresh green beans
2 onions onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 big fresh tomatoes, finely chopped,
1/4 tsp sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp of salt

Clean and cut the green beans into 1 to 1 1/2 inch pieces.
In a deep pan, heat the olive oil in a pan and cook the onions and garlic until translucent.
Add the beans, stir, and cook them until they are brighter green
Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes and then add sugar, water, and salt.

Cover the pan and cook on low until the beans are soft (about 45 minutes.)

Technorati Tags: Recipe,Turkey,Zetinyağli Taze Fasulye

Ironic.

It is amusing that I discovered Jesus in a nation of Islam. Do you remember Tulumba or "If Jesus was a Baker?" Well, today I found Kitir, or "If Jesus was a Butcher." I have had Kokoreç before. But this place is AMAZING. It is kind of a hole in the wall. But one of those great places that will never go out of business, because they put food first and decor last. I had two 1/4 sandwiches today. Which means instead of a huge big sandwich they take the bread and literately cut off a quarter of it to make you a sandwich. Perfect, nice and small, because I wanted two. I had Kokoreç which is ridiculous. The absolute BEST Kokoreç you will ever have in your life. Then I have media tava, fried mussels with a Turkish tartar sauce. Also super delicious.

This is right about when I found religion. And it tasted good.

News on the Tech Front: If you had subscribed to my RSS Feed it has moved so you will have to Update your subscription. All two of you. Hi Mom, Hi Dad. And if you haven't, go ahead. Do it!

I'm Sorry!

I've been distracted, by many things, but I should be better soon. AKA this GRE bitch that has been riding my ass will be over. Lets hope it goes well. So that is next Monday. So let me give you a peek to what I have been up to...
I will call it Goodness Incarnate, or If Jesus Was A Baker!


Otherwise know as Tulumba. For those whose don't know what If Jesus Was A Baker is, it is an amazing pastry that is deep fried then soaked in a sugar syrup, then served while it is still crispy. It is amazing. It is practically juicy with the syrup on the inside and still crispy on the outside. Because I am not working, therefore do not have money to buy clothes in the next size up I am planning to avoid the sight of these incredible things. So if you see me in Turkey and I am twitching and gazing around in a strange manner it means there is probably Tulumba in the vicinity and in self preservation I am avoiding it.

Turkish Fast Food

Since I have been in Turkey, I have been eating more "Home Cooking" than anything else. The food available in restaurants is dramatically different that food cooked in the home. Well, today we found ourselves in one of the many malls in Ankara. Which means one thing: FOOD COURT.

Well after perusing the options, aka, figuring out what everything was, I decided on Kumpir. Kumpir is a large baked potato of which the inside is mashed and mixed with a little cheese. Then there are topping to chose, such as; corn, peas, pickles, sausage, olives, black and green. Then there are condiments, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, Russian dressing, hot sauce, chili peppers, and yogurt. It is very tasty! Look at it! It is practically oozing deliciousness!

Bülent was craving a Kumru Sandwich, which was also very tasty. A Kumru Sandwich has cheese, sucuk (pronounced as sujuk, a spicy sausage) and tomato. It is served with cucumber pickles, hot pickled pepper and along with ketchup and mayonnaise.

All in all, a very good trip to the mall.