I met Ulli through my Istanbul Breakfast Club and was soon introduced to her own cooking: her meals always strike me as utterly delicious, nourishing and making you feel content and yet light while her baked goods are the most delicious guilt-free treats I have tried in Istanbul. She’s such a fascinating woman that I wanted you to meet her in my Istanbul Pantries Series: I chatted with Ulli about her cooking style, favorite Turkish pantry items and tips for shopping in Istanbul.
Istanbul Pantries: Ulli, Ayurvedic Consultant, Herbalist and Yoga Therapist
Istanbul Pantries: Alex, San Francisco Baker and Agriculture Researcher
How do you feel about peeking at other people’s kitchen pantries? This is the first thing I do when allowed to somebody’s kitchen! What can be more fascinating than looking at your friend’s curated collection of jars, boxes, bags of the cooking condiments you also use, you know but have never ventured to cook with or you never knew existed? I love asking questions and hearing stories about how people source their ingredients and what they cook with them. A week ago Alex, my friend from San Francisco living in Istanbul, invited me over to have a look at her pantry.
To The Food Snobs
The first time I was admitted to Marina’s kitchen it became clear I was dealing with a food snob. There are people who love eating and appreciate a broad range of foods; they are called foodies. Yet certain individuals are so meticulous about their food they would be looking down on you indulging your store-bought hummus or - God forbid - hummus made of unpeeled canned chickpeas. The said individuals are food snobs. Like Marina. Or like myself. I often talk about how spending time with my mother-in-law cooking top-notch Turkish food in Sapanca has made me such a demanding eater. But it is hanging out with Marina in Istanbul - over food, food shopping, cooking or eating - that has shaped me as an ultimate food snob.
