Turkish Breakfast

One of our favourite things about Turkey is BREAKFAST.

Kahvalti is the Turkish word for breakfast, and it means "before coffee." You would probably never be served coffee with your breakfast, but rather tea. Then when you were done, you might have a little cup of Turkish coffee and be on your way.

Turkish breakfast is not a set menu, but includes some variety of the following:

olives, green and/or black
cucumbers
tomatoes
different cheeses
different jams or spreads
honey
kaymak (close to clotted cream, which you mix with the honey)
butter
sujuk (spicy sausage)
pastirma (similar to pastrami)
eggs, hard boiled
eggs sunny side up with sujuk
menemen - eggs scrambled with peppers, onion, tomatoes
a big basket of mixed breads and buns to accompany your meal

Some of the above pictures are from restaurants, a couple are from our home or our friends houses. It is a lovely tradition to share with others, as the meal is meant to be enjoyed in a leisurely fashion, over many cups of tea and lively conversation!

This is a truly Turkish experience - funnily enough, embraced by even McDonald's! Check out this sign I passed in Yenikapi the other day:

Afiyet Olsun!