Saif decided to talk about the food in Turkey. He mentions, “Turkey is famous for its delicious and famous foods that are often shown on the television and social media, especially sweets, and unfamiliar foods.
What Turkish food did I like the most?
Nusrat and Burak dishes are very famous on social media. And yes, the food in Turkey is delicious in fact, the spices they use with the food are different from how my country uses them. The first time I saw oysters with rice inside which is called Midye, I always wanted to try it, and it was very tasty! Also, Balık ekmek (fish sandwich) and the Köfte near the coast. However, I did not like Kokoreç, which is a dish very different to my tastes.”
Saif elaborates,“ I see that there is no huge difference between Turkish and Arab food, on the contrary, most of the Levantine dishes are of Turkish origin. And I noticed there is also a similarity, such as eating Sarma (grape leaves) and Shawarma. Arabic cuisine is very oily and spicy, however, Turkish cuisine is lighter on the stomach when compared to Arabic food.
Also, the fruits of Turkey are fresh and very distinctive and taste delicious compared to the fruits that are found in Arab countries. For me, strawberries are one of the sweetest fruits that I have tasted here so far, here in Turkey.”
He says, “My favorite food is here in Istanbul, and if a friend from outside Turkey comes to me, I will suggest him to try dishes such as Midye, Tavuklu Pilav, Döner, Tantuni, Iskender Kebap.
Favorite desserts in Turkey
Turkey is distinguished by its sweets, as well as its manufacture of chocolate and biscuits, and there are large factories that export to the whole world. I love Turkish sweets very much. Baklava and Turkish ice cream are wonderful in my opinion. There are also specific areas in Istanbul for buying sweets and chocolate, such as the Fatih area and Istiklal Street. There is a famous Chocolate Museum in Istanbul. And of course, after talking about eating, I will not forget drinks such as Tea and Ayran and how much they are famous in Turkish culture. There are so many kinds of teas in Turkey, such as Apple tea or Pineapple tea.
There is always a question of whether food in Turkey is halal or not. Since most of the population is Muslim, all the restaurants have a Halal Certificate for their products and menus.”