Culinary Delights

From omakase cheese menus to the flavors of Istanbul, we indulge in a food scene that rarely disappoints

- BY CHRIS DWYER

THE CITY

Istanbul

This beguiling city, which famously straddles Asia and Europe and has wowed travelers for millennia, is home to a vastly underrated food landscape. One unmissable spot is The Peninsula Istanbul, where two-Michelin-starred Gallada dazzles diners with dishes from chef Fatih Tutak inspired by ancient Silk Road cuisines. Tutak led restaurants in cities including Bangkok and Hong Kong, so his cuisine in a venue overlooking the Bosporus incorporates flavors from Turkey, Central Asia and China. Wood-fired monkfish with black paste and yogurt and chargrilled kofte with tahini from Manavgat in the south of the country are two of the elegant plates designed to be shared and savored.

Adana Ocakbasi is a far more local joint, in business since 1978 and impressing diners with some of the finest smoky, skewered meats in Istanbul, cooked over a vast open grill in the center of the unassuming neighborhood restaurant. Offal is one speciality, but you can't go wrong with any of the tempting cuts of lamb, chicken, beef and more, served alongside fresh salads, spiced yogurts and brilliant traditional flatbreads hot from the oven.