So, what food is Trabzon famous for? The Black Sea Region is home to some incredible, unique foods. If you ask any local what the top two traditional foods of Trabzon are, you’ll be met with kuymak and hamsi. The first is a buttery cheesy cornmeal ‘fondue’ (yes please!), and the latter their Black Sea anchovy. When in Trabzon, these dishes are must eats!

Trabzon Kuymak is the ultimate high-calorie breakfast of the Black Sea

Imagine hot, melty, buttery cheese that stretches as far as your arm can reach, this my friend, is Trabzon kuymak. Made with three simple ingredients, cheese, butter, and cornmeal. Kuymak is a traditional food of Trabzon. It was invented as a high-calorie breakfast by harvesters working in the hazelnut fields. As a result, it’s usually eaten as a breakfast food. But, as far as we’re concerned, something this indulgent and cheesy could be eaten any time of the day.

Kuymak is served with fresh Turkish ekmek (bread). This is to pile on the cheese, and dip in the pool of butter left behind at the end of the dish. Black Sea Cuisine is very rich and full of butter, and Trabzon kuymak does not disappoint. It’s hard not to drool while typing…

Where to eat the cheesiest, gooiest kuymak in Trabzon

There are different ‘versions’ of kuymak found across the Black Sea Region. The main diference being the ratio of cheese, butter and cornmeal used. One of the best places to try kuymak is at Cemilusta in the main town square of Trabzon city. Here, they do an amazing kuymak with the perfect amount of all three ingredients to get the most wonderful stringy cheese consistency. Let’s put it this way, it was so good we debated a second!

Name: Cemilusta
Address: İskenderpaşa, Belediye Caddesi., Atatürk Alanı No:6, 61100 Trabzon
what3words: ///giggled.combines.awoken
Price: 60TL

For a bit more of a local experience, there’s a wonderful place tucked away inside a building just off the main street of town. With its own private courtyard, you can enjoy an amazing kuymak en plein air, or inside one of its cozy rooms below.

Name: Vosporos Café
Address: Gazipaşa, Yavuz Selim Blv. No:40, 61030 Trabzon
what3words: ///marriage.front.brands
Price: 40TL

Black Sea Cuisine straight from the Black Sea itself

Hamsi, which is Turkish for anchovy, is a famous traditional food of Trabzon. It’s found abundantly in the Black Sea Region and is very culturally significant. In fact, there are poems, folk songs, and stories all about it since it’s been a major staple of Black Sea cuisine for millennia. No wonder it’s dubbed the ‘prince of fish’! Hamsi, and fish in general, are so popular in the Black Sea Region that they’re actually consumed more than meat.

You see this as you walk through the streets of town and in any of the little local markets. Stall after stall selling an unending amount of fresh fish caught in the Black Sea that morning. Each stall home to the friendliest fishmongers I think we’ve ever come across. Nothing but smiles and warm faces greet you as you wander through.

Naturally, any visit to the Black Sea Region isn’t complete without trying the famous hamsi. The most popular way to do so is fried. The fresh hamsi are dipped in cornmeal and fried up in the most beautiful circular display. They’re served up perfectly crispy and decadently rich, on a plate in their own oil. Since they’re a small fish, the portion you receive is decent in size! Hamsi tava, or fried anchovy, are an extremely traditional food in Trabzon that you must try when in the Black Sea Region.

Where to get the freshest, crispiest, plumpest hamsi in Trabzon

The markets and stalls that are all over Trabzon sell freshly caught hamsi to take home to cook your own meals. The best way to have it though – in our opinion – is to go out to one of the many restaurants in the city. They will all have their catch of the day out on display and ready for your choosing.

Our first choice is Balıklama Balık Lokantası. Just pick what fish you’d like, hamsi and the rest, and have it cooked up, fresh to order. There’s really nothing like it!

While you’re there, we highly recommend trying their fish soup. Don’t worry, they’ll remind you to try it since it’s so popular. Massive chunks of fish are served in a mildly sour, light yellow broth that’s super hearty and warms you from the inside out. Make sure you squeeze some lemon juice into it to give it a nice acidic zing.

Name: Balıklama Balık Lokantası
Address: İskenderpaşa, Şht. İbrahim Karaoğlanoğlu Cd. 15/A, 61100 Trabzon
what3words: ///paddle.master.shells
Price: 75TL

Check out our video below, trying both kuymak and hamsi tava at some of the best restaurants in Trabzon.

The post Traditional Foods of Trabzon: Gooey Kuymak and Black Sea Hamsi appeared first on Hungry Two Travel.

The most important meal of the day is not taken lightly in Turkey

Kahvalti is a traditional Turkish breakfast consisting of an unbelievable spread of small plates of food. All of this is meant to be shared with friends and family. Starting with fresh salty white cheeses, olives and eggs. Leading into sweet clotted cream, honey, preserves, spreads, and fresh bread. It’s a gathering full of so many delicious dishes that you’ll be looking forward to it the night before. No matter how modest the table, you can be sure to find it full of all the kahvalti staples.

Where to go for the best breakfast in Istanbul

With our new found knowledge, we set out to try the best traditional Turkish breakfast we could find. One of the more well-known places to visit is Van Kahvalti Evi. We wanted to try it out to see if it lived up to its reputation… and did it ever! If you find yourself in Istanbul looking for an authentic Turkish breakfast, then this restaurant has to make it onto your ‘must try’ list. It’s definitely the best place in Istanbul to try kahvalti, and we’ll show you why.

When to go to beat the crowds

With Van Kahvalti Evi being such a popular spot, it can get crazy busy on weekends. The busiest is mid-day, when a queue of hungry Istanbulites and tourists can be found lining the street. If you don’t feel like lining up with the rest of the city, then we highly recommend visiting during the week. We visited on a weekday about 1:00pm and had no issue finding a table.

What to order to get the full experience

The full kahvalti breakfast has two set menu options. Either of them must be ordered for at least two people, so make sure to bring your best eating buddy with you.

Of the two options, the more expensive “Serpme Van Kahvalti” was our go to choice. This option has the most variety of dishes to get the full experience. Not to mention the unlimited tea (more on that later), we figured you gotta go big or go home.

The freshest food, made in-house that morning

What makes Van Kahvalti Evi so special is that all of the food is made in-house, some of it even that morning. The Serpme Van Kahvalti comes complete with a plate full of fresh cheese, olives both green and black, eggs two different ways, fresh vegetables, honey and cream. With spreads, preserves, dips and jams, all ready to be eaten with your basket of freshly baked bread. This is the ultimate traditional Turkish breakfast.

The variety of fresh white Turkish cheeses are something to write home about. Consisting of a white brine cheese, braided cheese, string cheese, and an extra special sheep’s cheese that the restaurant calls Ottu Van Peyniri.

Made in-house, Ottu Van Peyniri is a herbed sheep cheese. It’s super sharp and full of flavour from the wild herbs that are used to make it. In English, it can be referred to as Van cheese. This name refers to both the region of eastern Turkey that this type of cheese originates, and the restaurant itself.

The ultimate treasure here, however, has got to be the kaymak. If you haven’t tried kaymak before, you must! It’s somewhat akin to clotted cream, except it’s made from buffalo milk and is a sure-fire way to put a smile on your face.

Here, it’s made fresh every morning and is served as a slice because it’s so thick. Take some on your fork or with piece of bread baked in-house, with a decent helping of fresh thick honey, and you’ll be beaming from ear to ear.

Did someone say, unlimited tea?!

What sets the “Serpme Van Kahvalti” apart, including the extra menu items, is the unlimited tea. Any meal in Turkey is not complete without a hot glass of tea, or çay, and breakfast is most certainly no exception. Breakfast must be served with plenty of freshly brewed black tea. Here, you can be sure to have a new glass brought to you as soon as your last has been downed.

Amazing hospitality and a friendly experience

From the moment you arrive till you walk out the door, the hospitality at Van Kahvalti Evi is incomparable. The amazing people working here are full of information about all the different dishes. They’re extremely attentive if you needed anything, especially a fresh glass of çay! In fact, we wouldn’t suggest this as the best breakfast in Istanbul for any less.

Kahvalti is not just a meal, but a whole experience

A traditional Turkish kahvalti is not just a meal, but a whole experience unto itself. Something that must be shared over great company and conversation.

At Van Kahvalti Evi, the combination of amazing food made fresh in-house, with wonderful service and hospitality, make their traditional kahvalti an unforgettable experience. If you’re looking for a true traditional Turkish breakfast, that goes beyond just the food, then Van Kahvalti Evi is the place for you.

Name: Van Kahvaltı Evi
Address: Kılıçali Paşa, Defterdar Ykş. 52/A, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey
what3words: ///circular.longer.finger
Price: 100TL/person

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