I was invited to Selçuk for the weekend and a sixty minute flight on Friday took me from Istanbul to Izmir down on Turkey’s Aegean coast. From there a car ride to the small town of Selçuk where my old friend lives more or less in the shadow of the landmark 6th Century Basilica of St John the Apostle while the town itself is dominated by the Grand Fortress on top of Ayasoluk Hill. Selçuk is very popular because of its proximity to the ancient city of Ephesus or Efes, the House of the Virgin Mary/Meryem Ana which attracts thousands of pilgrims annually, as well as glorious sandy beaches and a wealth of interesting places to see and visit. It’s a fabulous area. The remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, are there! Imagine!
This is the story!
Meanwhile:
Nearby the ruins of the church and grotto under some trees is a small pleasant outdoor cafe. Nothing fancy: rustic wooden tables and chairs outside and local women inside preparing the food in the traditional way.
We found a sunny table as it was a bit nippy in the shade. Friend Frances recommended the gözleme, typical rural fare. The village women in Assos make them too but I have to admit, these were in a class of their own. Whereas ours are filled with white cheese and parsley, these were either patlıcan/aubergine or potato.
In the first picture the women are making mantı, often referred to as Turkish ravioli. The preparation is very time-consuming as you can imagine but if home-made, can be a feast if a bit fattening! But I doubt very much that today’s young Turkish women make it. It can be bought so easily. It is served in bowls with tomato sauce and garlic yogurt then sprinkled with dried mint and sumac. Here, the blue plastic is to stop the mantı from drying out.
Very often in a Turkish family, there will be a teyze or auntie whose speciality it is to make mantı. Our own Auntie Ümit was the one with the magic touch re mantı and an invitation from her was not to be turned down!
There's a lady who sells fresh mantı on our local market. I can't imagine anyone (certainly not me)having the patience to do that all day. If we want any, we buy it from the lady.
As for the gözleme…just love the stuff. We have it at least once a week on the market. The perfect cheap snack. 🙂
Would love to go to Selcuk again. We really liked it there.
So intriguing, so life affirming to see the care and patience in preparing good food.
Love your photo's I've been to Selcuk lots of times. My husband was born in Bergama but grew up in Izmir. When we go to Turkey [we live in Canada] we always go to Selcuk……….as he still has some friends there. It's a great area.
I also love gozleme, very tasty. Last time I had it was from a market in Izmir.
Thanks for sharing……..
Sounds like a great weekend Claudia. You know I lived in Selçuk before moving here almost two years ago? I think your friend Frances is someone I know…it's a small world isn't it?
oh wow I love all your comments – so you all know Selçuk: Rosaria, you'll just have to come and visit us here!
Ayak, no, I didn't know you used to live there. How did you find it? You must know this cafe then! I'll check with Frances to see if she knows you …amazing.
..and yes, gözleme is great!
Claudia..I know the cafe but I've never used it, but used to walk past often with the dog. Frances may know me through a mutual friend Sheryl. We used to go to St Johns cafe fairly regularly.
I moved to Selçuk from Cappadocia, because of Mr A's job. We were there for a couple of years.
As always, I am jealous and envious that you live in such a beautiful place spiked with such history and traditions. And the food…yummy!
xx
Love your posts; gozleme seems to be very similar to the staple fare: rotis/ chappathis in North India.
Hi Knitsister and ?! Thanks v much for your lovely comments. I'm afraid I can't comment on the similarity with the N Indian food you mention – it's a cuisine I really don't know.
The food looks incredibly tasty and I love the miracle story to, very interesting!
I love your post and the pictures of the area. I have never been so this is all new to me. Keep up the posting!
Thank you for the fabulous photos and stories. My friend and I are going to go eat here when we come to Turkey in May. That food looks amazing.
Toby