After our eventful green tour, we decided the balloon tour was not going to be enjoyable enough for the price, so we decided to splurge on dinner instead. Before anyone who goes to Turkey after reading this dismisses the balloon experience though, we've heard that it is amazing and totally worth it, a "must-do". Unfortunately we weren't prepared for the 5 degree celsius weather, and it was only going to be colder high up in the air. It was also foggy, so the view was going to be partially blocked by cloud cover.
We went to the recommended Orient Restaurant, across the street from the big balloon tour companies in Goreme. It is easy to miss since it is off the main car traffic street on the fringe of the town instead of the more charming, curving cobblestone streets on the interior of Goreme. You walk in through a garden courtyard, to a wooden and glass floor to ceiling windowed long room that juts out of the modest stone building. White table cloths, wine glasses on the table, white cloth napkins; this place's decor was simple, elegant and prepared us for the great menu. They have their own greenhouse next door where they grow vegetables for the restaurant, which I thought was really great. It is great to see and experience that trend go international. We ordered a lentil soup, cheese pastry appetizer, turkish goulash, and baklava from the fix menu, and a flambe steak they set on fire at the table in front of you. It was totally delicious. Our hostess was this really nice Australian fellow-foodie lady that we had a blast chatting with. The restaurant staff was all really great, with senses of humor and the desire to continue to bring us things and chat with us even after we've paid. Unlike in the States, when you feel like you are being chased out of the restaurant when you're the only people there late at night, no one will ever rush you in a turkish restaurant, and you always have to ask for the check. We ordered a bottle of locally made wine which the region is known for in addition to pottery and onyx stone goods/jewelry.
The meal was excellent, the vegetables fresh, everything was perfectly seasoned, the 4 steak sauces were interesting flavors and the steak itself melted in your mouth- you could cut it with a butter knife. Turkish goulash turned out to be similar to the pottery cooked kebabe: tomatoes, beef, peppers and turkish spices cooked together in a casserole dish and served with rice and a slaw salad with a wedge of lemon for the dressing.
After dinner, the restaurant owner came to talk with us and told us of his friend in Avanos- the pottery town in Nevsehir that we should visit the next day. He treated us to hazelnuts and samples of Raki- the turkish spirit that tastes like black licorice and is traditionally drunk half and half with water. When you put water in it, the clear spirit turns milky. Honestly, it's not my thing- I'm not a fan of black licorice, but it was something to try. He invited us to return and stay at his guesthouse whenever we come back.
On our way home, we were escorted by two adorable dogs we encountered outside the restaurant. Before you freak out, you have to realize that 'strays' in Turkey are actually well taken care of, and usually they belong to someone. The restaurant owner even told us he has a german shepard that he uses to help guests find their way. In fact, one of the dogs might of been his dog. They walked us all the way back to our hostel (about a ten/fifteen minute walk). It was so cute- we loved them instantly, though I think anywhere else we would be concerned there were seemingly stray animals following us. They knew not to go into the hostel after us, it was like they just wanted to make sure we made it back safely. Awww... puppies- so cute.
The waiter put potatoes wrapped in foil in the fireplace and then shared some with us when they were ready.
Our guard-dogs
No comments:
Post a Comment