June 5th, 2013

Turkish wines I drink

Leave a comment / Categories: Turkish Wineries, Wine / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
 
My love of wine really started when I was a student. I used to spend alot of time with friends in Stellenbosch (a wine area in South Africa) visiting one winefarm after another. Tasting great wines and then ending up drinking our favourite bottle of wine next to the river with our picnic. We also had a alot of winemakers in our circle of friends and I spend numerous weekends partying on a friends winefarm, with an endless supply of wine. At Hotelschool where I studied, as part of my education I did local and international wine courses. This opened the world of wine to me!
 
The passion for wine has always been burning inside me. In Turkey my mission is to find a good bottle of wine at a good price. It is difficult as the tax on alcohol is so high in Turkey. Expats in Istanbul always ask me what wine I drink and what can I suggest.
 
Well, here is a few wines that I've been drinking lately. I discover new favourites every day, so this is only the beginning of a long list off Turkish wines I'm drinking.
 

Kavaklidere Brut

Köpüklü(Sparkling)
You always need a bubbly in your fridge! And this one surprised me! It was fine, elegant and well balanced. Great for a Kir Royale or just to celebrate summer!

www.kavaklidere.com

 
 

Suvla Blush Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

When I first tasted this wine, I fell in love. I'm not a big Rosé fan, but this Blush, I can drink everyday. It was like eating a bowl of Raspberries and Strawberries! The colour is pretty and the wine is so perfect for these hot days. I think even if you don't drink wine, you will love this.
 

Suvla Merlot 2010

I'm a big fan of Suvla. You are always guaranteed to find a good wine with them. They have a big variety in their range, from White, to Rosé to Red. Including award winning wines with their Sur and Rosanne-Marsanne.
They just opened their new shop in Nisantasi. Please visit the shop to see the beautiful display and also try their Kilye Natural food range.

Güzelbahçe Sokak Tugrul Apartmani 33/3 (Valikonagi Caddesi), Istanbul

 

Suvla Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah/Merlot 2010


www.suvla.com


Arcadia Gri 2011

Sauvignon Gris/Pinot Gris

Arcadia is a new find for me. This is the type of everyday wine I enjoy. It reminds me of an Italian white, crisp and refreshing. Great price too!
I just ordered 2 cases of this, because this will be my wine by the pool, wine by the BBQ, wine while I cook, wine with friends….you get my point. It is a everyday drinking wine.
 

www.arcadiavineyards.com

 

Chamlija Istranja 2011 and Kirklareli 2011

Chamlija Chardonnays are international award winning wines. Both of the Istranca and Kirklareli Chardonnay 2011 received silver in Chardonnay du Monde and the International Wine Challenge 2013. I enjoy Chardonnay and especially this one from Chamlija as its not too woody. The owners daughter painted the art that they use on the bottle. Definitely a family business.
 

www.chamlija-wine.com

 

Gali Evreshe 2010

Gali, another of my very favourite red wines of Turkey. The Evreshe is an amazing Bordeaux blend and for the price and quality, a type of red you order a case off to drink at home and give away as a gift. The label is stylish and elegant. The winery is only 3 hour drive from Istanbul. Great idea for a quick weekend in the Winelands of Turkey!
 
 

Gali Merlot-Cabernet Franc 2009 and 2010


www.gali.com.tr

 

Nodus Shiraz 2010

Nodus has been in my winerack since I arrived in Istanbul. I like Shiraz and this is a good example of a juicy, spicey Turkish Shiraz.

 

“Wine-making is the art of transmitting the features of the grape to the wine it will become in the best possible way.”


www.pamukkalesarap.com

 

 

 

For a wonderful selection of Turkish wines, head to Kuruçesme. Next to the Bophorus you will find Incirli Saraphane. A wineshop that stocks almost all the wineries in Turkey's wines. It is a beautiful place where you can taste the wine and buy them at wholesale prices to take home. www.incirlisaraphane.com

 

All, I can say to all my expat friends…and Turkish friends, is to please buy local. Support the Turkish wine industry. You will find the right wine for you at a price that fits your budget. And if you don't think so, contact me and I will assist you and get you to taste good Turkish wines. Maddiehugo@gmail.com

 

 

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May 31st, 2013

Fener and beyond

2 comments / Categories: Historic sights, Istanbul Tourist Places to Visit, People of Turkey, Turkey / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Apologies for being away a bit, but I have been exploring, eating food, drinking wine and organizing my daughters birthday….and that is a whole production on its own.
 
Walking the streets of Istanbul is still my favourite thing to do. That's what I do when I feel a bit down, that's what I do when I'm happy. It brings a smile to my face and sooths my soul.
 
I went for a Photowalk in the Fener and Balat area of the old Istanbul. It is a lovely place to wander the narrow, cobbled streets. On the shores of the Golden Horn I again found unique people and learned about the traditions of the locals.

 
 

One of the first places we visited was the Cathedral Church of St George. What the Vatican is to Catholics, this church is to the Greek Orthodox.

Since 1586 this humble building in the Fener neighbourhood of Istanbul, houses the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Church. Inside it has all the opulence and beauty of an Orthodox Church. The patriarchal throne is believed to be dated from the 5th century. Other artifacts inside are three rare mosaic icons and The Column of Christ's Flagellation. This is a portion of the column where Christ was bound and whipped by Roman soldiers before his crucifixion.

Pilgrims from all over the world visit this special place and when I was there a very charming young priest was showing a group around.

Fener means Lighthouse in Turkish


 
And then there are the children of Istanbul….always smiling! This beautiful girl walked down the street with her handbag and book and was keen to be photographed, speaking to me in perfect English. As my Turkish is still not that good, it was lovely to have a conversation with her. She was delightful to chat to.
 

Church of St. Mary of the Mongols is not open to the public, so it was a honor to be able to go into this complex that lies behind a high wall in the Fener hills. The church is near the building of the big Phanar Greek Orthodox College, overlooking the Golden Horn.

Inside the church there is a framed letter on the wall that is from a Sultan who granted ownership of the church to the Greek community. It is in recognition of the services of the Greek architect, Christodoulos, who helped built the Fatih mosque.

Under the church is this passage and they say you can reach the Hagia Sophia through this tunnel.

 
 
Our trip to Eyüp was very exciting, catching a lift on a little boat to go up the Goldern Horn. After getting off, we walked to the Eyüp Sultan Camii. The Eyüp Sultan Mosque is one of the most important for Muslims. It is also a pilgrimage place for people and many of them bring their kids with.
 

At the mosque I saw alot of young boys dressed up in beautiful outfits. They look like little kings. This is for their sünnet. It is the Turkish word for circumcision.

A sünnet is the Muslim circumcision ritual and is generally performed when boys are between the ages of 7 and 10. A big part part of the sünnet ceremony is the preparation of the outfit for the honored boy. Then there is a big sünnet party to celebrate the boys rite of passage from boyhood to manhood. At least he is rewarded with lots of gifts from everybody after his big ordeal.

 
 

Did you know there is a cable car in Istanbul? After visiting the mosque, you just follow the signs to go to Pierre Loti, a very nice restaurant at the top of the hill where the cable car takes you. From there you can admire the view of the Golden Horn.

Istanbul surprises me everyday with its secret spots and I am more than happy exploring them.

 

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May 3rd, 2013

Yazgan, a family affair

6 comments / Categories: Turkey, Wine / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
In the Yazgan family house, situated in between the vineyards in Ulucak, close to Izmir, hangs a traditional wedding dress that belonged to the mother of Hüseyin Yazgan, the founder of Yazgan Winery. This beautiful, handmade wedding dress made with velvet and golden lace, speaks of the great story of Mr Yazgan's roots in Greece and what he left behind. Settling in Izmir, in the Aegean region of Turkey, he brought his knowledge of vineyards and winemaking with him and in 1943 he established Yazgan Winery. With this he left his family a legacy of one of the oldest and largest wineries in Turkey with the yearly production capacity of almost 7million liters.

Didem Yazgan Alemdar, a third generation in this wine family, tells with fondness about her grandfathers work, the family tree and then also about the exciting new project.

One of the new ventures for Yazgan wine is the Vondina project. The name of their Premium label. The first production was released this year(2013) and already the Vondina Chardonnay 2011 walked away with a Silver medal at the prestiges Chardonnay du Monde 2013. The vineyards are in Turgutlu, about 20 km from Ulucak and named after the small village, Vondina in Greece that represents the roots of the Yazgan family.

Yazgan has a wide range of labels using both the grapes from their own vineyards and purchased grapes from various grape suppliers all around Turkey. They purchase the best quality local grapes from every region. Öküzgözü from Elazig, Bogaskere from Diyarbakir, Narince from Tokat and Emir from Nevsehir.

 

Their own vineyards are planted in Turgutlu, 40km east from Izmir, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

Major UK wine importers are catching on to Turkish wines now and Yazgan can be found on the shelves in the UK and Europe. Turkey is producing a small but growing amount of world class wines. In recent years wine producers in Turkey started sending their wines to prestigious international competitions, such as the International Wine Challenge and the Decanter World Wine Awards in London. A Turkish entrepreneur and wine educator, Yunus Emre Kocabasoglu, has been inviting some Masters of Wines (MW) to Turkey in the last few years. They have tastings in Istanbul which are open to the public and rank Turkish wines by using the 100 pointer system. Yazgan wines has been doing very well here. As this post goes out Masters of Wine are gathering in Istanbul again for the 2013 tasting.

What I enjoy about Yazgan wines, specifically the Mahra range of wines is that the prices are very good for the quality you get. Mahra is the Ottoman name for the wooden crates used to carry grapes during harvesting time. Antoine Bastide D'Izard, the French winemaker and production manager is from an old wine producing family in Southern France. Antoine is a 7th generation winemaker who has 15 years of experience in wine making. With his experience and using the latest of the ever advancing technologies, he is bringing the best out of the international and indigenous grapes.

 

Premium Wines:

VODINA Chardonnay 2011 Aged “sur-lie” for 11 months in French oak barrels

Chardonnay du Monde Siver medal 2013

“Lovely golden colour with silver glints, crystal clear and brilliant wine. The bouquet assaults the nose, powerfully explosive with notes of mango and lychee. On the palate the same aromas are found with the added nuance of grapefruit. This aromatic fusion is underlined by an exceptional roundness, rendering the wine full and ripe. The fresh and intense finale reveals mineral notes and a good persistence in the mouth.” Antoine Bastide D’Izard – Oenologist

VODINA Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah & Merlot 2011 Aged for 12 months in French and American Oak Barrels

“Deep crimson colour. Powerful and rich nose with notes of dark fruit preserve. On the palate, complex, intense wine with notes of sweet spices, pepper and roasted coffee. This full, round wine displays a perfect balance between tannic texture and freshness in the mouth. With its strong aromatic potential and intensity, this wine lingers warmly and persistently in the mouth.” Antoine Bastide D’Izard – Oenologist

Kupaj wines:

(Kupaj means wine made with two or three different grapes)

MAHRA Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah 2011

MAHRA Bogazkere & Öküzgözü 2011

International Wine Challenge: Bronze Medal – 2012

Decanter: Bronze Medal – 2012

MAHRA Kalecik Karasi& Syrah

International Wine Challenge: Bronze Medal – 2012

Decanter: Silver Medal – 2012

MAHRA Sauvignon Blanc & Sultaniye

International Wine Challenge: Bronze Medal – 2012

Decanter: Bronze Medal – 2012

Masters of Wine 2013 – 89 points, second highest score of white wines

MAHRA Sultaniye & Emir

International Wine Challenge: Commended 2012

Decanter: Commended 2012

MAGENTA Merlot & Bogazkere 2012

MAGENTA Öküzgözü & Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

ROSEO 2011 Kalecik Karasi and Öküzközü

International Wine Challenge: Commended 2012

Decanter: Commended 2012

 

Monosepaj/Yazgan wines:

( Monesapaj means 100% one type of grape)

YAZGAN Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

YAZGAN Bogazkere 2011

YAZGAN Öküzgözü 2011

YAZGAN Merlot 2011

YAZGAN Syrah 2011

International Wine Challenge: Bronze Medal –2012

YAZGAN Chardonnay 2011

YAZGAN Sauvignon Blanc 2011

YAZGAN Emir 2011


Popular wines:

CASABA Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2011

CASABA Öküzgözü & Syrah 2011

CASABA Chardonnay & Emir & Sultaniye 2011

CASABA Semi-Sweet 2011

DOLCE VITA Red 2012

DOLCE VITA Rose 2012

DOLCE VITA Beyaz(white) 2012


Table wines:

KULÜP Red 2012

KULÜP Rose 2012

KULÜP Beyaz(white) 2012


Hüseyin Yazgan would be proud of the way the third and fourth generation of his family are taking the Yazgan winery to new heights. They are out there promoting, with the family and team behind them full of enthusiasm. This year, 2013, they will celebrate the 70th year of Yazgan. Something to be proud of and together with their wines they still have an even brighter future.

YAZGAN WINERY:

Address: 7093 Sok. No: 7 Pinarbasi – Izmir – Türkiye

Tel: +90 232 479 11 35

 

Email: istanbul@yazganwine.com

Yazgan website: www.yazganwine.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/yazganwinery

Twitter: @yazgan_wine

 

Happy 70th celebrations Yazgan!

 

6 comments

April 25th, 2013

25 things I do in New York

6 comments / Categories: Food, New York, Restaurants, Travel /

Many of my friends are going to New York lately and as I've been in New York a few times, they always ask me what I think they must see and do. Well, this list is for them and anybody else that wants to know what my favourite things are to do in New York.

When I go to New York I'm always super organized with where I want to go. To not miss out on anything, I make a copy of a New York map before I leave and mark every place I want to go on the map. Then I know, when I walk the streets of New York exactly where all the places and addresses are without trying to look it up in a Guidebook. I don't miss out on anything in a particular area, as I've marked it on my map and know what I want to see…or mostly EAT in my case. Hubby thinks I've lost my mind, but when we are there he is thankful for me being so organized. Normally the first few days I've done all the things on my list and the rest of the time I just watch New York go by and pretend I'm a local.

 

25 things I do in New York

 

1. Carnegie Deli – famous for their Pastrami sandwich and Cheesecake.

2. Dean & Deluca – the original store in Soho. Full of an amazing selection of Deli food.

3. Eataly – Italy's food and wine under on roof. They say the food is better than in Italy itself.

4. Shake Shack – the best…and cheapest Burger I've ever had! Order chips and the famous Frozen Custard Shake with it too.

5. Horse carriage ride in Central Park – you just have to experience Central Park this way! Still very romantic!

6. Serendipity3 – a delightful place where the movie, Serendipity was filmed. the food is good, but the Frozen Hot Chocolate is a must!

7. Ellen Stardust Diner – for singing and dancing waiters while eating in a real American diner. The food is not that great but I love the entertainment.

8. I'll Mulino – an amazing Italian restaurant with great service and food! Start with a glass of Prosecco at the bar.

9. Tribeca Grill – owned by Robert de Niro. Still a favourite with New Yorkers. A lovely restaurant for celebrity spotting! With the 20,000-bottle wine list, it is one of only seven restaurants in New York to receive the Grand Award from Wine Spectator Magazine.

10. Union Square park – mix with the locals. Take a cup of coffee and food and sit and watch the locals come out to play. Feed the Squirrels while doing that! There is also a great Christmas market there during Decembers.

11. Madison Square Park – buy food at Eataly and enjoy it in the park. The original Shake Shack is here!

12. Plaza Food Hall – upmarket and beautiful! Go and have coffee afterwards at the Plaza hotel. Very posh!

13. Tour through Waldorf Astoria Hotel – Grace Kelly had her engagement party here and famous residence has been the gangsters Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano and also Cole Porter and Marilyn Monroe. Home to the Waldorf Salad.

14. Magnolia Bakery – cupcakes from Sex and the City! Go to the original one in Bleecker street and take a stroll afterwards in the West Village.

15. Sarabeth's – a sweet place with the legendary spreadable fruit! Great for scones and tea.

16. Dylan's Candy Bar - even for an adult this place is heaven! Ralph Lauren's daughter opened this packed to the ceiling full of sweets shop.

17. Lexington Candy Shop – a wonderfully preserved retro old diner. A piece of American history with the original Soda fountain.

18. Dakota Building and Strawberry Fields – if you are a John Lennon fan, this is where he lived and died in New York and the area in Central Park is a tribute to this Beatle.

19. Sex and the City Tour – wonderful way to see places in New York that you won't normally go to. From shoestores to Sexshops to having a Cosmopolitan where Carrie had one. My husband loved this tour too!

20. Balthazar – this place is nothing but DELICIOUS!!! A favorite spot for Oprah and Bill Clinton, the food is just great! Beautiful and yummy!

21. Grand Central Station – go to the legendary Oyster bar and mingle with the commuters. It is a beautiful building!

22. Grimaldi's – under the shadow of Brooklyn bridge with a memorable view of Manhattan from this picturesque part of Brooklyn. Grimaldi's is an institution with the best Pizza in New York.

23. Katz Deli – the place where in the movie When Harry met Sally's famous “I'll have what they having” moment took place.

24. Empire State Building – the view is breathtaking! Book your ticket online before the time to skip the long queues.

25. Venieros Pastry – the oldest Italian bakery in America. Don't leave New York without trying their Cannoli's, Italian pastry at its best!

 

This is only a list of 25 places. There is alot more to love and to share about this city that never sleeps. As you've noticed the list is mostly around food places. Now that is where my, call it, obsession is.

 

Please tell me your favourite spots, so I can look them up next time I'm in New York!

 

6 comments

April 15th, 2013

Interview with Chef Sezai Erdogan

Leave a comment / Categories: Food, Interviews, People of Turkey, Restaurants / Tags: , , , , , , ,
After a memorable meal at Tugra and sitting next to the charming Executive chef of the Ciragan Palace Kempinki Hotel, I couldn't resist asking him a few questions about himself and his love of food.
 
Sezai Erdogan is a fascinating man that knows every back passage of this grand hotel, as he has been at the Kempinski Istanbul since its opening in 1990. He has worked with world-famous, Michelin-starred chefs including Alain Ducasse, Roger Verge, Michel Troisgros and Marc Meneau, organized Turkish Food festivals at the Plaza Hotel in New York and now he is back at the Ciragan Palace as their first Turkish Executive chef.
 
“Using regional products is vital for the taste of the food” says a chef that has a deep knowledge of Anatolian cuisine. And his other secret talent is that he is fluent in Japanese.

Where are you from originally?

I was born and grew up in Istanbul. However my roots is Bolu, Western Black sea.

What do you most love about Istanbul?

History,culture and cosmopolitan

What is your most popular dish among clients?

International dishes:

Wild Seabass with sauteed vegetable, Chicken curry with pineapple, Buffalo mozzarella with Basil pesto

Turkish dishes:

Testi Kebab, Centik Kebab, Monk fish wrapped in wine leave, Seabass with Mastic sauce

What is your personal favourite dish?

All kinds of fish from the local sea and all types of local vegetable cooked in olive oil. I basically love everything!

Your most memorable meal at a restaurant?

Sushi at the Okura hotel / Tokyo

Lamb dishes at Beyti /Istanbul

Pepper spaghetti /Venice

Baklava dessert from Gaziantep/Turkey

What countries are on your food travel wish list?

Japan

India

Thailand

A secret Food place(restaurant or shop) in Istanbul that we should go and visit?

Beyti in Yeselkoy www.beyti.com

Turkish Delight at Haci Bekir Lokum in Eminönü www.hacibekir.com

Kebabs at Develi in Kalamis www.develikebap.com

Turkish coffee at Mehmet Efendi in Eminönü www.mehmetefendi.com

 

 

A few dishes Chef Sezai spoke about that you may not know:

Centik Kebab – Grilled marinated lamb & chicken cubes laid on crispy string potato, garlic yogurt, tomato, peppers, finished with lightly spiced butter.

Testi Kebab – A dish from Central Anatolia and the Mid-Western Black Sea region, consisting of a mixture of meat and vegetables cooked in a clay pot or jug over fire (testi means jug in Turkish). The pot is sealed and cracked open at the table.

Mastic Sauce - Have a look what Wikipedia says it is. http://en.wikipedia.org

 

 

Thank you Chef Sezai for sharing your fabulous life of food with us!

 

 

 

 

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