箱庭八咫烏
~Greetings from the Topkapi Palace Emperor's Gate~◉ A mouthful of beginning - Grilled Eggplant with premium olive oil, cheese, garlic, red king crab, dill leaves, and caviar. A powerful start with a variety of unique appetizers that seem to promise great Turkish cuisine ahead.◉ Today's Soup - Fennel SoupTurkey is known as a soup nation, and this fennel soup with its aromatic herbs is a knockout.◉ Dolma Bafche Palace - Imperial Hall Dance PartyA medley of appetizers which includes artichoke with lemon accents, cigar borek wrapped in pastry, a 14th-century omelette with caramelized onions, sautéed white mushrooms, and hummus made from chickpea paste. Each dish showcases a clever use of spices and herbs, demonstrating the chef's skill.◉ A Plate from a Banquet at the Outlying PalaceScallop kebab. Marinated and juicy scallops grilled to perfection, a luxurious dish using only the adductor muscle. The lobster broth adds an unprecedented depth of flavor. Absolutely mind-blowing!◉ Deniz MaşrurleriFrom the kitchen comes a natural flounder from Aomori. Marinated in herbs and cooked to perfection, finished with an anise-scented cream lemon sauce. The flounder turned out so tender and juicy, leaving me impressed.◉ Palate CleanserA refreshing palate cleanser with fruit juice in ice – a sherbet. In Turkey, sherbet used to be a drink of high status.◉ AnayemeçkiFrom the kitchen, a tender and juicy spring lamb chop with the aroma of native herbs from the Aegean region. Also, a spiced wagyu minced beef kofte. I couldn't choose between the two mains, so the staff kindly served both. The lamb chop was incredibly smooth and moist, with a beautiful herb fragrance. The kofte, made with wagyu beef rib, was a big hit for me.◉ TatlıFrom the kitchen, today's desserts:Traditional Turkish rice pudding, jazzy, a traditional carrot sweet, and fruit jelly. The rice pudding is made with the finest vanilla beans. The carrot sweet has a perfect level of sweetness. I visited to sample the world's three major cuisines but didn't expect Turkish cuisine to be this delicious. The deep historical relationship between Turkey and Japan was also highlighted. It's a wonderful place where you can enjoy delicious food and learn about history, and I definitely want to visit again.