Istanbul Cafe

This evening, I treated Mary to a good Turkish meal at Istanbul Cafe in New Haven. The food was very good.

I had Kuzu Şiş Kebab—"Lean cubes of lamb marinated and grilled over a charcoal fire. Its simple preparation allows you to savor the exquisite, smoky flavor of the coal-fired lamb." True to its word, it was simply prepared and simply delicious.

Mary had Patlican Musakka—"A dish of pan-fried eggplant laden with a rich meat sauce decked with potato, tomato and sautéed onion and then smothered with melted kasar cheese." Yummy.

With the meal, I was delighted to indulge in a rare glass of Kavaklidere white wine. Of course, I'm a bit biased, having enjoyed the wine first at Barry's wonderful wedding in Istanbul. The taste of this excellent wine brought back those sweet memories as well as pleasing me in the here and now with Mary.

With dessert, I enjoyed a cup of apple tea, a simple, delightful beverage I enjoyed often in Istanbul.

The Istanbul Cafe is has a large parking lot right next to it. I took advantage of that, not wanting to waste time searching for a parking spot on the busy New Haven streets.

To sum it up, Mary and I will be back...with friends!

The Plough

If you're ever visiting Philadelphia, consider dining at The Plough. Mary and I came across it quite by happy accident on a warm August afternoon. The food and service were good. I'm not sure how to describe the restaurant's ambiance other than I liked it. To see for yourself, check out the pictures at their site.