Journey to Taste: Konya

The second stop of my Journey to Taste is Konya, which I have wanted to see for years. Thanks to a job that I gave my heart to, Hz. I was feeling very lucky and even more excited to be in Konya, the city of Mevlana.

The first day started with the warm welcome of one of my followers, dear Gülizar. Gülizar is a true Konya lover, and when I jokingly asked if you had ever thought of living in another city, her answer was "NEVER!" it happened. She told me that she was looking forward to returning to Konya, even though she had gone to stay with her relatives a few times before.

Our first stop with Gülizar was the Japanese Park, this park is literally an unexpected paradise of nature and flavor that suddenly appears before you. There is a rich and delicious open buffet breakfast 8 days a week in the restaurant and cafe serving between 00:23 in the morning and 00:7 in the evening.

After breakfast, we went to the famous Alaeddin Hill. After I got out, while I was thinking about the hill, I was amazed that I could see almost the whole of Konya from the hill only 20 meters high. This hill has a history of 5000 years. Alaeddin Keykubad Mosque, one of the important works on it, is one of the most important examples of Anatolian Seljuk architecture.

From there, we turned our route to Cikrikcilar Bazaar, where I stopped by Murat Cookie House and bought Mevlana Candy, which was ordered before I even came :) I don't remember if I've ever eaten these huge white candies, but I really liked the plain and date one. The bazaar has been reorganized recently. All shops have been renovated with a nostalgic atmosphere. A cute bazaar where you can easily find everything you are looking for.

While we were wandering around, it was late evening without realizing it, and we went to Azra Etli Ekmek Grill to taste the meaty bread and tiridine with the hunger of traveling so much. We started the meal with Arabaşı soup and continued with the famous meat bread and tirit. A method used to evaluate stale bread since times of absence. The ancients used to wet the stale bread with broth and put it on the table with the ingredients they added to it. This method has been admired and loved so much that now there are various types of tirit in the market. I loved the one with kebab. When you go to Konya, I recommend you to stop by and taste it.

On the 2nd day, we met one of my followers, dear Ayşe, and Ateş Baz-ı Veli Hz. We went to visit his tomb. The reason we went here is probably because it was the cook whose mausoleum was built in history. Of course, while we were gone, we bought some of his salt for ourselves.

After the visit, we went to Ehil Kebap to eat oven kebab, one of the best-known tastes of Konya. Lamb meat is used for Fırın Kebab, and neck and sleeves are especially preferred for this. Meats are cooked in a wood oven for 6 hours by turning them from time to time. The service is quite simple and must be eaten by hand to enhance its taste :) Also, do not forget to eat Sacarasi.

Afterwards, the most important of my reasons for wanting to go to Konya, Hz. We set out for the Mevlana Tomb. Dozens of buses lined up on the road at the entrance brought tourists from many parts of the world. After completing our visit and visiting the museum, I told the girls I had a surprise.

I took them to Somatçı, whose reputation has spread beyond Konya. The full name of the restaurant is Somatçı Fihi ma fih… Somatçı means the one who sets and lifts the table. In the Mevlevi dervish lodge, the 18th of 10 posts was a table maker. Fihi ma fih, on the other hand, means “whatever is in it, is in what is in it”.

Ulaş Chef is really an expert in his job, he doesn't just cook, he researches the history of everything he cooks and shares it with us by modernizing it as little as possible. Thanks to him, we have the opportunity to get to know the recipes of the Seljuk cuisine, which have become alien to us over time.

I felt really lucky to be able to get into the kitchen together. We prepared roasted tarhana for us and talked about the Mevlevi cuisine. We drank the vinegar sherbet (a kind of sherbet prepared with vinegar, honey and water), which was served before we started the meal. We started with Fihi ma fih and pepper soup with walnuts, and after meat with figs and quinces, we ate a meal like a poem. I had never tasted almond halva before and I loved its taste. The dental rent given to us at the end of our meal was the surprise of the day. Even Ayşe and Gülizar, who were not willing to try new flavors, were amazed by the flavors. One meal I ate here was not enough for me, if I get a chance, I can go to Konya again just for Somatçı :)

On the last day of my Journey to Taste with Maggi, we stopped by Celaleddin Berberoğlu Felt Workshop near the Mevlana Museum. We found beautiful felt products here, and even witnessed the making of felt embroidered silk shawls.

We entered Rebabname after the peaceful music we heard while walking around. We were swept away by the awe-inspiring sound of the rebab played by Mr. Şems.

In our last day, Konya's famous wedding dinners We were going to be guests of dear Ayşe's mother to prepare it. It is the most organized and colorful fixed market I have ever seen before I go home. to the Women's Market we stopped by. From there dry okra ve moldy cheese After receiving many materials such as wedding pilafWe went to Karataş Et to buy the meat we will use in .

When we got home, Ayşe's mother Şerife sister greeted us. We went into the kitchen together without wasting any time and started to prepare the famous wedding menu. In fact, these dishes come in a certain order at weddings. It was in the form of yogurt soup, rice, okra soup, zerde and rice that came again. Sister Şerife also prepared for us the stuffed leaves with minced meat and Konya's famous homemade water pastry. At the table where we sat, we tasted the food and chatted with pleasure. The 2-3 days we spent brought us so close that we had a hard time leaving. Thanks again to dear Ayşe and Gülizar for their warmth and hospitality :)

Here I list the flavor stops I've been to. Don't forget to stop by when you go to Konya :)

Love…

Konya Kyoto Japanese Park
Address: Kosova District
Veysel Karani Cad. No: 131/A Konya
Tel: +90 332 261 23 03

somatist
Address: Akçeşme Mh. Mengüç Cd. No: 36 Karatay – Konya
Phone: + 90 332 351 66 96

Murat Cookie House
Address: Cikrikcilar Cad. No:10/B Meram- Konya
Phone: + 90 332 351 0 444

Karatas Meat Chicken
Address: Akçeşme Mh. Aziziye Cd. No:50/B (Behind the Women's Market)
Phone: + 90 332 352 14 13

Azra Meat Bread and Grill
(I'll add your card when I find it)

Ehil Kebab
Address: Branch Selcuklu: Yazir Mah. Dr. Halil Urun Cad. Mustas Site.
B Block 8/D (Next to the Bus Station) KONYA
Tel: +90 332 265 13 65