The Hungry Tourist is delighted to present:

The Culinary Secrets of Istanbul with Sinan

February 23 – 27, 2022

Magnificent Istanbul is a city that challenges all your senses and makes you fall in love with her. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it has its own unique sound, smell, and touch.

But the sense this mysterious city which has been for millennia a center for world trade will challenge the most is your sense of taste.

I call it the birth bed of all the good food in the world.

Here’s a tiny taste of what you can expect to experience on our Istanbul tour.

Apply to Join The Tour

Sinan Hamamsarılar or as many in Turkey know him, Tatdedektifi (The Taste Detective) is someone you want to have in your wing when you navigate Istanbul’s streets looking for good food.

He is the one who knows what hides behind every door and in most cases has the key to it.

Sinan is one of Turkey’s most serious and popular culinary experts and influencers, he consults to the food industry and writes for “Hürriyet”, Turkey’s biggest newspaper and for Turkish Airlines’ ’“Skylife” magazine.

On top of all this, Sinan is a great cook and a world-class expert on hamburgers.

No other city in the world is famous like Istanbul for it’s grilled meat. We will savor the best it has to offer. No less than 3 different Doners, each one different in style and flavor.

Our guests will have the best possible Adana Kebab and lamb chops in Zübeyir, Istanbul’s leading Ocakbaşı and will savor what many believe is the best Köfte(grilled meatballs) in the world at Köfteci Hüseyin.

Musa Dagdeviren, who was featured in Season 5 of Netflix’s Chef’s Table show, is single-handedly responsible for the revival of numerous ancient recipes from across the Ottoman Empire.

Ciya, his iconic restaurant in the Asian side of Istanbul is famous for its rich and highly seasonal menu, cooked in entirety from fresh local ingredients. At Ciya you can savor long forgotten dishes that no one else in the city serves.

The Anatolian peninsula is blessed with hundreds of regions, each with its own typical cuisine. One can actually eat in Istanbul for months on end without repeating a dish.

During their 5 days tour, our guests will taste the best of these regional delicious dishes.

Nothing demonstrates better the grandeur and magnificence of Istanbul as a Yacht Cruise on the Bosphorus.  And nowhere in the city, you can find better fish and seafood from the Bosphorus, the Marmara, the Mediterranean and the Black seas as in Kiyi Restaurant.

Our guests will embark on the cruise from the Four Seasons Hotel’s private pier and cruise for 2 hours between Asia and Europe for a special lunch at Kiyi.

Istanbulians love to eat out. In lokantas close to their place of work and in the streets.

Doner, Kokoreç (stuffed lamb intestines), Midye Dolma (stuffed mussels), Borek, Simit and Balik Ekmek are just a sample of the great fare offered daily in carts and shops all around the city.

Sinan is the perfect man to navigate the streets for the best they can offer.

Did you know that more types of cheese are manufactured in Turkey than in France? Have you ever fresh and creamy Kaymak made of Buffalo milk with your breakfast? Have you ever tried a delicious Adana Borek oozing with melted cheese? Or Su Borek which believed to be an earlier version of Lasagna?

Istanbul is blessed with hundreds of dairy eateries and Sinan know the best of the best of them.

No other people in the world pickle more stuff than the Turks. They don’t only eat the pickles with their meals but also drink their juices which are considered a super-food and are very healthy.

Our guest will try Turkish pickles in the best shop and in restaurants.

No words are actually needed here. After all, Turkish sweets (all sorts of Baklava, Katrmer, Lukums, Jams and others) are exported from Turkey to every corner of the world because of its unique quality develops by craftsmen for centuries.

But no Baklava that is consumed away from Istanbul tastes like the one served fresh from the oven in Istanbul.

A visit to Istanbul isn’t possible without a visit to its colorful markets, because the markets are everywhere.

During their 5 days tour, our guests will visit the Istikalal Fish market, The Egyptian Spice Bazaar, the intimate Besiktas Market, the perfect Kadikoy market and the unique Sunday Kastamonu market of the Black Sea farmers.

There is no better place to relax after a busy day in the bustling streets of Istanbul than in the calm compound of The Four Seasons Hotel on the Bosphorus.

Have a Gin & Tonic or a cup of coffee by the Bosphorus while looking at Asia on its other side, pamper yourself in the Turkish Hammam in its luxurious Spa, or just relax in the luxury of your room.

The Four Seasons Hotel at the Bosphorus is without a doubt the best in the city.

The last meal of the tour will be the Grand Sunday Brunch at the Four Seasons, which is one of the best brunches in the whole world.

Itinerary and Hotels

Meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel at the Bosphorus

Hotel reservation: From Feb 23 to 27, 2022

Kick-off meal: Dinner on Wednesday, Feb 23

Last meal: The Four Seasons Sunday Brunch on Sunday, Feb 27

Apply to Join The Tour

A Note on Set Menus

The menus offered during the tour are selected by The Hungry Tourist with the help of our local partners. We believe they represent the best culinary fare Istanbul has to offer. Guests may order outside of these menus at their own expense.

Wine: Not offered in most restaurants and not included.

Payment

A non-refundable deposit of Euro 800 per person will be charged upon reservation.

The balance will be charged to your credit card 60 days prior to the first day of the tour.


Cancellation Policy and Penalties

If cancellation is received up to 30 days before the first day of the tour, the deposit will be forfeited.

If cancellation is received up to 10 days before the first day of the tour, a penalty fee of 50% of the remaining balance will be charged. If cancellation notice is received within 10 days of the first day of the tour or the guest is a no-show, the entirety of the remaining balance will be charged.