Monday, October 03, 2005
Turkish drinks...
Favorite new drink: Ayran: Salty and fizzy cold yogurt drink served with lunch and as a basic refreshment during the hot summer months. Very yummy. I found some in Montreal and it's just as yummy as the one in Turkey.
No so favorite new drink: Turkish coffee: it sucks. Although I had 1 or 2 that were passable, I just can't drink the stuff. Coffee is, last time I checked, a drink. Therefore, it should not be chewed and should not require dental floss once finished.
Luigi was intent on liking it and had some every day of the trip. He still hates it. Even the Turks hate it bc 80% of them drink tea. And, believe it or not, 10% of them drink Nescafe (yes, Nescafe, which I would choose over Turkish coffee any day of the week). Needless to say, our first latte when we got back to Montreal was, quite simply put, orgasmic.
Turkish tea, or Çay (pronounced tchai): basically your every day
run of the mill English tea but very strong. Always served in lovely tulip-shaped glass cups with cute saucers. The average Turk drinks between 5 and 10 a day. If the average Turk happens to be a carpet salesman, he's probably drinking 30.
Beeeeeer: nothing like a nice cold brewski after a day of hiking in the desert. Most widely consumed beer in Turkey ? Efes pilsen.
Originally a small local Turkish brewery, it's now exported to over 40 countries and, well, it was our carb of choice during the trip.
Most fun about Efes is that they sell big 500 ml bottles that are shaped like stubbies. Very satisfying and not as bad-looking as your run of the mill Canadian King can. Best part is the price. 2.5 Lira for a jumbo stubby (2.20$ CDN).
Raki:
clear brandy made from grapes and raisins and flavored with aniseed. Similar to Pernod but more potent. Alcohol of choice with mezze. Served in a skinny tall glass and diluted with water. It kind of grows on you! (We quite like it, actually!).
Turkish wine: Meh! It's alright. Most known wineries are Kavak and Cankaya. The best-selling and actually very drinkable Turkish white wine is called Kavaklidere Cankaya. Don't know what the grapes are but it was similar to a Sauvignon blanc. Still, we stuck to raki.
All of the above pictures taken from the web. We're keen and all, but not the point of photographing our beer.
No so favorite new drink: Turkish coffee: it sucks. Although I had 1 or 2 that were passable, I just can't drink the stuff. Coffee is, last time I checked, a drink. Therefore, it should not be chewed and should not require dental floss once finished.
Luigi was intent on liking it and had some every day of the trip. He still hates it. Even the Turks hate it bc 80% of them drink tea. And, believe it or not, 10% of them drink Nescafe (yes, Nescafe, which I would choose over Turkish coffee any day of the week). Needless to say, our first latte when we got back to Montreal was, quite simply put, orgasmic.
Turkish tea, or Çay (pronounced tchai): basically your every day
run of the mill English tea but very strong. Always served in lovely tulip-shaped glass cups with cute saucers. The average Turk drinks between 5 and 10 a day. If the average Turk happens to be a carpet salesman, he's probably drinking 30. Beeeeeer: nothing like a nice cold brewski after a day of hiking in the desert. Most widely consumed beer in Turkey ? Efes pilsen.
Originally a small local Turkish brewery, it's now exported to over 40 countries and, well, it was our carb of choice during the trip.
Most fun about Efes is that they sell big 500 ml bottles that are shaped like stubbies. Very satisfying and not as bad-looking as your run of the mill Canadian King can. Best part is the price. 2.5 Lira for a jumbo stubby (2.20$ CDN). 
Raki:
clear brandy made from grapes and raisins and flavored with aniseed. Similar to Pernod but more potent. Alcohol of choice with mezze. Served in a skinny tall glass and diluted with water. It kind of grows on you! (We quite like it, actually!).
Turkish wine: Meh! It's alright. Most known wineries are Kavak and Cankaya. The best-selling and actually very drinkable Turkish white wine is called Kavaklidere Cankaya. Don't know what the grapes are but it was similar to a Sauvignon blanc. Still, we stuck to raki.
All of the above pictures taken from the web. We're keen and all, but not the point of photographing our beer.
Ataturk
For most people, Ataturk is none other than the founder of the modern Turkish Republic as it exists today.
For Luigi, the word Ataturk served as the equivalent of "Atta girl" and "Atta boy" for the entire length of our trip...
e.g.:
"Aaaatta turk!" she said to the waiter when he poured her an extra glass of raki...
For Luigi, the word Ataturk served as the equivalent of "Atta girl" and "Atta boy" for the entire length of our trip...
e.g.:
"Aaaatta turk!" she said to the waiter when he poured her an extra glass of raki...
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