Way back when, a long long time ago, Börek was the centerpiece of the Sultan’s six-course meal. it was revered as the culinary epitome of Ottoman culture: a taste of poetic refinement, courtly elegance and timeless urbanity. Because the flakey, delicate nature of the film dough, it was elevated from its nomadic roots. Stemming from […]
Blog
Black Tea Baking
One of the favorite cakes over at Kahve Cafe has been our Turkish Black Tea Cake. Cooking with tea takes a a minute to prepare because the tea needs time to not only steep, but also to cool down. Beginning with our blend of black tea from the Black Sea region, I brew up a […]
Meet Our Family: Heyfene Spices
Hayfene embraces a 500 year old history. Being a family business since 1517, the brand’s story started in Taif – a city under Ottoman rule at the time. For around 300 years, the family actively continued trading between Egypt, Istanbul and Malatya. The spice business today was founded in 1886, and settled at a constant […]
The History of the Hammam and the Peştemal
Hammam, meaning “the spreader of warmth,” is the merging of the ancient Roman baths with the Ottoman influence after the conquest of Constantinople in 1450 AD. Divided into 3 sections, the Turkish bath not only promoted public hygiene before indoor plumbing, but it also was a very social place for people to gather and relax. […]
