Fresh, Seasonal Turkish Cuisine in a Local Istanbul Home - Day Trip

Traveling Spoon

Selda inherited her love of the kitchen from her father, an excellent cook. Originally from the Black Sea region of Turkey, Selda's father fed the family plenty of fish and only the freshest vegetables. Selda remembers him cooking chestnuts on a wood stove in the family home, and omelets that were so beautifully presented that they could have been mistaken for works for art. He believed cooking was a form of personal expression. Selda prides herself on her healthy take on traditional Turkish recipes cooked with seasonal ingredients. She also likes trying out non-traditional ingredients like quinoa. She has been experimenting with healthy cooking for several years and is working to open a food studio where she will entertain friends and hold workshops. Don't expect common kebabs and other heavy meat dishes at Selda's - she showcases the real foods that Turks eat on a daily basis, with a healthy twist. You'll be warmly welcomed into Selda's tastefully-decorated apartment in the upscale neighborhood of Ulus. Your meal might start with a soup (warm in winter or chilled in summer), and then you'll taste dishes like Selda's savory karniyarik (eggplant stuffed with minced meat and vegetables, on top of pillowy bulgur wheat), zeytinyagli taze fasulye (green beans cooked in olive oil, a Turiksh staple), börek filled with chard (a recipe passed down from her husband's mother), all accompanied by a garden-fresh salad. If you book a cooking experience, join Selda in her modern kitchen for a hands-on lesson of a few of her favorite seasonal recipes. As you cook together she'll tell you about the origins of the dishes she prepares and how she experiments with incorporating non-traditional ingredients to create her signature cooking style.
Please note due to space constraints, Selda can only offer cooking lessons to groups of 2-3 people. She can accommodate groups of up to 6 for meal-only experiences.

Vacation Inclusions

• Meal
• Cooking Class (optional)
• Lunch (1pm-3pm Meal, 12pm-3pm Cooking Lesson and Meal) OR Dinner (8pm-10pm Meal, 6:30pm-9:30pm Cooking Lesson and Meal)
• Vegetarian Options available
• Alcohol available

Featured Destinations

Istanbul Istanbul This centuries old capital guards the slender waterway between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and is the doorway between the East and West. Visitors can explore remnants of Byzantine Constantinople in the Sultanahmet district, where you will have the chance to see ancient splendors, such as the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. At night the city boast a lively nightclub scene and excellent Turkish dining options that may include cultural entertainment and dancing. Istanbul also features splendid shopping malls, boutiques, and hand crafted items can be found all over the city.

Destination Guide

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