Delicious Istanbul Food Tour: January, 3-9 2011 We invite you to start the new year in Istanbul, a city that has hosted many empires and religions and has inherited from them not only a fascinating history but also incredibly rich culinary traditions. We offer you to experience Istanbul beyond the traditional “package” of the key city highlights and immerse into its daily life through its exciting gastronomy. During the Delicious Istanbul Tour you will not only sample traditional Turkish dishes but also learn how to make them; will not only indulge at the exclusive restaurants where world class chefs are creating the contemporary Turkish cuisine but will also explore the backstreet eateries where the locals in the know queue up for a delicious bite; will not only marvel picturesque touristic markets but will also visit local bustling bazaars; will not only get the flavor of the urban delights but will also sample the delicacies created by the loving hands of farmers and the warmth of the generous sun.

Delicious Istanbul

Delicious Istanbul Food Tour: January, 3-9 2011

We invite you to start the new year in Istanbul, a city that has hosted many empires and religions and has inherited from them not only a fascinating history but also incredibly rich culinary traditions. We offer you to experience Istanbul beyond the traditional “package” of the key city highlights and immerse into its daily life through its exciting gastronomy.

During the Delicious Istanbul Tour you will not only sample traditional Turkish dishes but also learn how to make them; will not only indulge at the exclusive restaurants where world class chefs are creating the contemporary Turkish cuisine but will also explore the backstreet eateries where the locals in the know queue up for a delicious bite; will not only marvel picturesque touristic markets but will also visit local bustling bazaars; will not only get the flavor of the urban delights but will also sample the delicacies created by the loving hands of farmers and the warmth of the generous sun.

Agenda of the Delicious Istanbul Food Tour

Jan.3 Monday - Istanbul Welcomes

After the arrival to the hotel we will sit down for tea: over this genuinely Turkish drink as well as its sweet and savory accompaniments we discuss details of your delicious stay in Istanbul. Time permitting, we will take a ride around the city to marvel the grandeur of the Istanbul's iconic sites and sense diverse flavors of the city. In the evening we will unpack high heels and elegant jackets for a dinner at a trendy restaurant featuring contemporary Istanbul cuisine and a panoramic view over the Bosphorus.

Jan.4 Tuesday - Eating and Cooking at the Countryside

After the morning tea at the hotel we will drive through the scenic landscapes to an organic farmhouse on a hilltop. There we will be treated to an elaborate organic breakfast with fresh pastry, home-made jams, variety of cheeses and cured olives served with the village bread. After the breakfast we will join our host in the lunch preparation to experience Turkish cooking first-hand and then savor the prepared dishes. Later we will head out back to Istanbul to spend the evening enjoying fusion cuisine by an Istanbul renowned chef in the excusive atmosphere of his restaurant.

Jan.5 Wednesday – History and Cuisine of the Ottoman Istanbul

Charged with the breakfast at the hotel we will tour around Sultanahmet, historical part of Istanbul, to see its most important landmarks and definitely understand their gastronomic importance. We will stop for mouthwatering food at an excellent kebab shop off the mainstream tourist routes. After the free time in the afternoon we will meet for dinner at a restaurant featuring Ottoman dishes that are still prepared with the Sultan chefs’ recipes.

Jan.6 Thursday - Cosmopolitan Flavors of Istanbul

We will start our exploration of Istanbul's European side, cosmopolitan in its looks and flavors, with a visit to an Eastern Turkish breakfast salon. We will continue with the tour of Beyoğlu neighborhoods appreciating their aristocratic history and facades. We will make a lunch stop at an Istanbul's best-kept secret serving Turkish-Armenian cuisine and then will spend the afternoon with sampling desserts at the Istanbul's legendary sweets and pastry shops. Weather permitting, before the sunset we will go up the Galata Tower for the breathtaking views of Istanbul. As the day fades we will relax over a guided testing of Turkish wines and cheeses in a private setting.

Jan.7 Friday - Eating off the (b)Eaten Path

We will take a ferry down the Bosphorus to the Asian side, young and vibrant, to visit a bustling fish market, trendy urban bakeries and pastry shops with the decades of history. For lunch we will sample rare Turkish regional dishes the recipes of which have been collected around the country by the enthusiastic chef. As we will return to the historical part of Istanbul we will get busy discovering gastronomic delights of the picturesque Spice Bazaar and then follow our nose at the local market learning about the spices, exotic cooking ingredients and utensils on offer. That evening we will join Istanbullus from all walks of life for a tavern dinner featuring traditional food, drinks and music, a truly unique experience of the Turkish gastronomy and culture coming together.

Jun 8. Saturday - Eating and Shopping at the Cultural Crossroads

After the breakfast we will head out to the old quarters of Istanbul, Balat and Fener, to learn about the multi-cultural past of the city and admire its Orthodox churches, synagogues, mosques as well as the stunning frescoes at the Chora Church Museum. Afterwords we will lunch at the food court of the world oldest shopping mall, the Grand Bazaar, which will set us right for shopping and enjoying the free afternoon and evening.

Jun.9 Sunday - Free Time and Departure

Fancy a hamam (Turkish bath) pampering after all the walking and eating? Or would like to shop for more traditional crafts and latest designs? Whichever you choose we will not leave you without valuable insights and recommendations about the exciting activities and premier places to visit, shop, get pampered and eat at before you head out to the airport in the evening.

Special requests on the activities as well as food allergies or special diet can be accommodated with advance notice.

The tour experience is intimate and limited to 6 guests. Please, contact us for a consultation and price quotation.

Delicious Istanbul Food Tour includes the following key highlights:

✴6 nights at an elegant hotel (double occupancy, breakfast included)
✴Airport transfer (two ways)
✴Istanbul introduction tour (subject to the arrival time)
✴Private English-speaking guides throughout the tour
✴Private transportation within the tour program
✴Entrance to the key museums and sites
✴Traditional welcome tea session (subject to the arrival time)
✴Day trip to an organic farm near Istanbul
✴Guided testing of Turkish wines and cheeses in a private setting
✴Sampling of traditional Turkish sweets at the legendary sweet shop
✴Table reservations at exclusive dining places off the mainstream tourist routes