Blog
How to Take a Historic Break While Exploring Sultanahmet?
After exploring Sultanahmet and Topkapı Palace, take a dinner break accompanied by authentic Turkish cuisine and Bosphorus views at Olive Anatolian Restaurant in Sirkeci.
Notes from Olive
We write about the streets of Istanbul, the stories behind Anatolian cooking, the table and the culture around eating out. Sometimes we follow a single dish, sometimes we stop in a corner of the city fewer people know. These are the notes worth a look before you come.
Blog
The Art of Table Setting: Unconventional Rules of Serving Meze in Anatolia
A guide to cold-hot balance, service order, and flavor harmony in Anatolian meze culture. Discover the nuances of meze tradition from the terrace of Olive Anatolian Restaurant in Sirkeci.
Blog
From Haydari to Mutabbal: The Anatolian Roots of Eastern Mediterranean Mezes
Discover the historical origins of Eastern Mediterranean and Anatolian meze culture through Haydari and Mutabbal, the distinctions of olive oil dishes, wine pairings, and authentic culinary spots in the Historic Peninsula.
Blog
Cooking a Dish Twice: The Secrets of the “Terbiye” Tempering Technique in Turkish Cuisine
Discover the nuances of the terbiye (tempering and marinating) technique in Turkish cuisine, methods to prevent curdling in soups and stews, and the secrets of traditional Ottoman palace recipes.
Blog
White Bridal Dress: The History of Rakı and Its Cultural Journey in Anatolia
The historical development of rakı in Anatolia, production techniques, and the etiquette of the rakı table. Meze pairings from Ottoman times to the present, serving temperatures, and concrete details of table culture.
Blog
Rakı Table Guide: Which Meze Pairs with Which Rakı?
A detailed gastronomy guide covering the essential rules of rakı and meze pairing, the serving order of a traditional çilingir table, and ideal meze matches based on rakı types.
Blog
Design Your Own Istanbul Cocktail: The Art of Mixology on the Terrace
Discover mixology techniques to design your own cocktail against the unique Bosphorus view in Istanbul's Historical Peninsula, and experience a romantic, refined gastronomy journey with aromatic ingredients.
Blog
The History of Ashure: 40 Ingredients and 40 Stories Behind One Dessert
Discover the history of ashure dessert stretching from Noah's Flood to the Ottoman palaces, the tradition of unity symbolized by its 40 ingredients, and authentic gastronomy routes in the Historical Peninsula.
Blog
The Secret of Baklava: The Journey of a Dessert from the Ottoman Palace Kitchen to the Streets
Discover the historical journey, master secrets, and refined dessert experience of baklava, a deep-rooted heritage of Ottoman palace cuisine, accompanied by stunning views in the Historical Peninsula.
Blog
Engagement and Anniversary Dinner Planning Tips for Wedding Preparations
Tips for planning romantic engagement and anniversary dinners in Istanbul's Historic Peninsula. A guide to choosing the right atmosphere, personalized menu details, and unforgettable celebrations accompanied by a unique view.
Blog
The Hidden Heroes of Plant-Based Dining in Turkish Cuisine
Discover the rich plant-based heritage of traditional Turkish and Ottoman cuisine, the deep-rooted olive oil culture, and its reflection on modern vegan-vegetarian plates, set against the breathtaking atmosphere of the Historical Peninsula.
Blog
The Evolution of Spice Usage in Turkish Cuisine: From Caravan to Your Table
Discover the historical evolution of spice usage in Turkish cuisine, from the Spice Road to the Ottoman palace and modern plates, highlighting flavor balance and contemporary interpretations at Olive Anatolian Restaurant.
Blog
Planning Guide for Large Group Dining in Istanbul
A comprehensive guide on choosing the right venue, menu planning, scenic views, and professional coordination for large group dining, corporate events, and special gatherings in Istanbul.
Blog
A New Skill on Your Istanbul Vacation: Turkish Cooking Workshops
By participating in Turkish cooking workshops during your Istanbul trip, you can learn traditional recipes from chefs and make your vacation unforgettable by tasting your own creations against the backdrop of the Historical Peninsula.
Blog
A Day Filled with Culture and Flavor in the Historic Peninsula
Discover a one-day walking itinerary and insider tips that combine the cultural landmarks of the Historic Peninsula with the unique flavors of Ottoman and Anatolian cuisine.
Blog
The Secret Behind the Harmony of Fruit and Meat in Ottoman Palace Cuisine
Discover the sweet-and-savory balance created by fresh and dried fruits in meat dishes within Ottoman palace cuisine, historical cooking techniques, and their reflection in today's Historic Peninsula gastronomy culture.
Blog
How to Plan a Romantic Dinner in Istanbul
Discover the nuances of planning a romantic dinner accompanied by historic views in Istanbul, complete with advice on timing, menu selection, and reservation details.
Blog
Being a Vegan Traveler in Istanbul: A Guide to Plant-Based Turkish Flavors
Discover how to explore traditional Turkish cuisine without animal products during your Istanbul trip, from meze and olive oil dish culture to ordering tips and flavor routes in the Historic Peninsula in this guide.
Blog
What is Included on a Traditional Turkish Breakfast Table?
Discover the rich spread culture of traditional Turkish breakfast, regional cheeses and olives from Anatolia, warm starters like menemen, and the special place of freshly brewed tea in this guide.
Choosing a Restaurant
How to Tell a Tourist Menu from Real Turkish Cooking
Photographs, a hundred and fifty dishes, twelve languages. Concrete signs of whether a restaurant works for tourists or for the food.
Choosing a Restaurant
Olive Anatolian Restaurant: The Story of a Terrace in Sirkeci
Where it is, what it cooks, who it suits. A single account of the restaurant — location, menus, workshops and capacity — for anyone getting to know it.
Choosing a Restaurant
Seven Questions to Ask Before Booking a Restaurant with a View in Istanbul
"With a view" covers a lot of ground. Seven questions that, asked before you book, save the evening.
Choosing a Restaurant
Where to Eat Near Hagia Sophia and Sultanahmet
The streets around the square are full of tourist restaurants. Concrete signs that tell a good one apart, and where to look instead.
Cuisine & Recipes
Baklava, Künefe, Rice Pudding: The Differences Between Turkish Desserts
Syrup or milk, hot or cold? The three families of Turkish desserts and when each one belongs.
Istanbul Guide
Travelling Gluten-Free: What to Eat in Istanbul and How to Ask
Which part of Turkish cooking is naturally gluten-free, and where the traps are. A practical guide to reading menus and talking to a kitchen.
Workshops
A Cooking Class in Istanbul: What Do You Learn in Two Hours?
What people want to know before booking: what gets cooked, whether experience is needed, and how it ends. A two-hour session, step by step.
Istanbul Guide
Sunset in Istanbul: The Best Hours to Watch the Bosphorus
It is not the moment the sun goes down that matters but the forty minutes after it. Seasonal times, which way to face, and where to watch from.
Bar & Drinks
How a Rakı Table Is Set: Meze, Ice and Order
Rakı is not a drink to be finished quickly but the spine of a table that lasts for hours. How it is poured, what it is drunk with, and in what order.
Bar & Drinks
A Guide to Turkish Wine: Kalecik Karası, Öküzgözü, Narince and Boğazkere
What Turkey's native grapes taste like and what they go with. Four names, and a practical way to read a Turkish wine list.
Cuisine & Recipes
Zeytinyağlı: Why Anatolian Cooking Was Already Vegan
Plant-based food is not a new turn in Anatolia but a course that has existed for centuries. The logic behind zeytinyağlı dishes, and where a vegan menu comes from.
Cuisine & Recipes
Ottoman Palace Cuisine Today: Mahmudiye, Sultan Kebab and the Pastry Plate
Palace cooking put honey beside meat and fruit beside spice. How those recipes were built, and how they sit on a menu today.
Cuisine & Recipes
A Guide to Turkish Meze: What Are Muhammara, Hummus, Mütebbel and Şakşuka?
Knowing the names on a meze plate makes ordering easier. What goes into the eight you will meet most often, which one is hot, and which are vegan.
Istanbul Guide
From Sirkeci to Sultanahmet: A One-Day Walking Route Through the Historical Peninsula
A single day that starts at Gülhane and ends at the Grand Bazaar — little climbing, a planned lunch stop, and the right order to see things in.
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