Merhaba from Kadiköy, Istanbul on the Asian side! Took a ferry from the airport to get to Şule's place. There is something lovely about that. And now I have an alarm system outside of my phone: a man beautifully singing Qu'ranic prayers from the mosque nearby. Five times a day, in case I take a nap or two.
The morning after I arrived, my host, Şule, prepared the lovely Turkish-style breakfast for me, as shown above, and we have been having this each morning in variations. It's actually very similar to the Iraqi breakfasts I grew up with -- my Turkman father, with a serious De Niro face, who casually creates nonsensical rhymes for certain words, would call it a "cheese meeze" breakfast. Şule güzelim, my beauty, was sure to pick up the fresh simit, a circular sesame encrusted bread from heaven, from her simitçi or simit man. Oh I am certain I can eat simit with feta, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, and çay every morning for the rest of my life. Omelet optional.
When I asked Şule what she wanted from Los Angeles she said bagels, plain bagels from Western Bagel. Next time she comes to visit me, I will ask for the simit.
It is very natural for me now: çay (tea) with meals, Türk kahvesi (Turkish coffee) after meals. Somehow I thought this would be a difficult transition for me, but the çay is enough caffeine to get me through breakfast, considering my dependencies. And the Türk kahvesi is strong enough to get me through... a few hours. Until my next cup. Today, while walking along the Marmara Sea, with the parks and beaches filled with picnics and laughter and volleyball, we stopped at a random cafe for a Türk kahvesi break. It's quite nice to be walking for awhile and suddenly a cafe appears so that you can rest your old lady bones and have a nice cup of coffee.
It is clear that breakfast is my favorite meal here. And it's nice to have someone to share it with. Afiyet olsun!
Turkish Breakfast | #01
ingredients:
simit, preferably fresh from the simitçi
tomatoes, with olive oil
cucumbers, with olive oil
feta, with olive oil
olives, green and black
omelet of choice, mine: feta, dill, scallions
çay
directions:
Lounge at the table while eating all these things in the way that feels most natural to you. When you are done, enjoy some Türk kahvesi and maybe a small sweet.