Midye Dolma. Mussels stuffed with rice that has been fried with onions! According to Lonely Planet, these things have the most bacteria, but easily were the most delicious things I ate in Istanbul. Found in Sampiyon Kokorec, they are the fast food of Turkey. I am jealous!
Manti. Turkish ravioli stuffed with lamb in yogurt sauce. This dish looks like Chinese dumplings and tasted like it, but not as delicious.
Turkish coffee. I don't understand what makes this so popular. It's small and thick, like an espresso but with grainy bits, like an espresso not made correctly. My theory is that the native people of Turkey only drink Nescafe and that Turkish coffee is actually for tourists to be charged at an exorbitant rate. Laugh away, you Turks. I tried it at a blasphemous 6 lira at Havazlu, a tourist trap at the Grand Bazaar. Deliciously overpriced indeed.
FIGS. What an explosion of flavor! Stuffed with roasted pecans and topped with clotted cream. This cream had a consistency that was a mix between ice cream and whipped cream. All of it was soaked in honey. This was just an OD of sugary sweet heaven!Don't think this is all I ate. It's the middle of the night. I will post more food in the morning!
