Join me for a full-hearted day of cooking, tasting, and discovering the everyday flavors of Istanbul. We’ll meet at the Ramada Hotel and stroll through the colorful neighborhood of Kurtuluş. It’s full of family-run shops and local characters, and I’ll take you to my go-to spots: the spice store where I always get my sumac, the bakery that smells like childhood, the pickle shop that’s been here forever.

We’ll pick up ingredients as we go, tasting a few things along the way and chatting about what makes Turkish food so rich and soulful.

Then we’ll head back to my home, where we’ll cook together in my cozy kitchen — maybe börek, maybe dolma, maybe a full table of colorful mezes. It depends on the season and what inspires us in the market. Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced cook. I’ll guide you through every step, and we’ll take it slow and enjoy the process.

Once everything is ready, we’ll sit down and eat together, just like friends do. We’ll share the dishes we’ve made, sip tea, and hopefully have one of those conversations that stays with you even after you’ve left.

Come as a guest, leave as a friend.

If you have any dietary restrictions, just let me know ahead of time — I’m happy to adapt. And if you need help finding me at the start, I’m always just a message away.

Also please note: I have a very friendly dog who will be with us throughout the experience. He is gentle and used to being around guests. If you have any concerns or allergies, feel free to reach out in advance — I’m happy to accommodate however I can.