I
know we did when we explored the ruins of Yedikule Hisarı and followed the Byzantine-era
stone walls. (Please see previous post about Istanbul's
ancient walls here.)
By
following 10 Yıl Caddesi behind the Yedikule fortress, about 1.5 kilometers away, you will find
some of the best köfte in the
Zeytinburnu neighborhood of Istanbul. There's not much along the main road,
which is why this köftecisi is such a
gem of a place.
Like
many of Istanbul's best places to eat, Merkez Efendi Köftecisi is tucked down a
side street. You probably wouldn't know this small restaurant was there unless
someone recommended it or you happened to stumble upon it. We enjoyed lunch
here thanks to the historical tour we did with Friends of American Research Institute Turkey
(FARIT).
We
started out with a traditional piyaz,
a Turkish bean salad, with onions, parsley, tomatoes, and dressed with olive
oil and vinegar. A bowl of spicy sauce was served on the table so I mixed a
healthy dollop into my plate of piyaz.
The
perfect dish to accompany piyaz is
either köfte or köfte.
These
köfte (grilled Turkish meatballs) are
quite comparable to the ones I've enjoyed at the 81-year-old Tarihi Köftecisi Selim
Usta in Sultanahmet. Juicy, slightly fatty and simply delicious!
 |
| More spicy paste to accompany the köfte. |
 |
| I loved how they served the fresh, homemade ayran in this fancy cup fit for a sultan. |
In
Istanbul, you can will see köfte served
just about everywhere. But how often can you eat truly good köfte in the proximity of nearly 2,000
years of history?
Telsiz Mah. 69 / 1 Sokak,
Zeytinburnu, Istanbul
From the Yedikule Hisarı, follow 10 Yıl Caddesi for about 1 kilometer, then turn onto Belgradkapı Cad. You will see Merkez Efendi Köftecisi
located on the corner.
5 comments:
My desire for a good kofte increases by the dostance I am from Turkey. I 'm looking forward to getting back to Bodrum to indulge the craving. However I can't complain about the venison sausages and fresh trout I've been having in Scotland.
if there is such a thing as kofte envy, i have it!!!
@BacktoBodrum, it's funny the things you miss when you aren't here in Turkey. ;-) Enjoy the scenery and the food in Scotland!
@Joyce, yes, not hard to have, but you do make a wonderful kofte as well!
I could use some good Köfte right now! Miss the food in Turkey greatly and badly.
@Mrs. Ergul, I've had so much Turkish food over our trip in SE Turkey this past weekend, that I am kebabed out! Tonight, I'm just having a salad, but we sure did enjoy ourselves. :-)
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