Turkish Cuisine in a Local Home with a Delightful Mother-Daughter Duo - Day Trip

Traveling Spoon

Nuray and Ipek are a mother and daughter team who love to entertain. After getting married at age 18, Nuray learned to cook at from cookbooks and workshops. She is now an accomplished home-cook who enjoys combining traditional Turkish flavors with Western cuisine. Her daughter, Ipek, is an engineering student at the Istanbul Technical University. Nuray and Ipek are inviting hosts and engaging conversationalists who love to meet people from all over the world and share their Turkish culture and delicious home-cooked food. You will be warmly welcomed at Nuray and Ipek's modern apartment in the Ataköy neighborhood. Your meal might start with a mercimek çorbasi (lentil soup) followed by içli köfte (stuffed bulgar meatballs, also known as kibbeh), cheese börek (a cheese-filled pastry), yogurt lu ispanak (spinach and yoghurt), barbunya pilaki (beans stewed in a tomato and lemon sauce), Nuray’s special handmade burger, karniyarik (eggplant stuffed with mincemeat and tomatoes) and a dessert of the most ethereal homemade baklava you’ve ever tasted. Dessert will be served with traditional Turkish coffee. Note that the menu will vary seasonally. If you book a cooking experience, under Nuray's expert eye you will learn to prepare some of her Turkish specialties. She’ll have you frying eggplant, chopping fresh vegetables, and wrapping börek within minutes of arriving at their apartment. Nuray is an effortless cook and will show you how to prepare a variety of dishes with confidence. You’ll enjoy the dishes you helped to prepare along with a few other dishes she prepares in advance. Nuray also offers an optional market tour add-on of their neighborhood market. Nuray and Ipek live very close to Ataturk International Airport and a visit to their home makes a convenient stop on your way in or out of town. Please note, in keeping with Turkish tradition you may be requested to leave your shoes at the door.

Vacation Inclusions

• Meal
• Cooking Class (optional)
• Market Tour (optional)
• Lunch (1:30pm-3:30pm Meal, 11:30am-3:30pm Cooking Lesson and Meal, 10:30am-3:30pm Market Tour, Cooking Lesson and Meal) OR Dinner (7pm-9pm Meal, 5pm-9pm Cooking Lesson and Meal, 3pm-8pm Market Tour, 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

Valid Date Ranges