Turks take breakfast seriously and never miss it. A typical Turkish breakfast is not a single item of food, but a combination of various dishes, and while its composition may vary from region to region, the basics such as cheese, bread and olives are always the same.
The first meal of the day can be found in cafes, bakeries, pastry stores and most restaurants, but a better choice is a café that specializes in breakfast. Cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, butter, jam or honey and eggs, often accompanied by freshly brewed tea, are the perfect start to the day.
Pastries and bread
No breakfast is complete without baked goods. Turkish flatbread is the most popular breakfast companion. It is cooked on the grill and filled with cheese, meats or vegetables.
Cheese for all tastes
Cheese consumption begins at breakfast and continues throughout the day. It participates in the preparation of pastries, salads and desserts, and is eaten on its own as a snack. Fresh white cheeses, Casals and Toulouse are the most common and come in many flavors.
Olives, Jam
Olives are a fundamental component of Turkish cuisine, with western Turkey known for its outstanding black olives and the southeast for its green olives. These plump little fruits are served alone with olive oil, lemon, or as a spread.
Speaking of sweetness, try the delicious glucose nectar and tahini (sesame paste). Jams and preserves are also plentiful, and in addition to classic dishes like strawberries, cherries, apricots and grapes, each region has its own special varieties, such as Mediterranean and Aegean, where oranges, lemons, tangerines and bergamot are popular. When traveling in Turkey, look out for more unusual ingredients such as eggplant, figs, pine cones and tomatoes.
Eggs and cooked food
In Turkey, eggs are either boiled, scrambled, or in a one-sided omelet. The classic is Menemen, a mixture of scrambled eggs, tomatoes, green peppers and onions. When it comes to breakfast meats, sukuk, dry spicy beef sausage and pasta, layers of corned beef covered in a thick layer of spices go well with a serving of eggs.
For the most authentic experience, be sure to save enough room for the Turkish coffee as you finish your feast of pastries, cheeses, olives and eggs for the perfect end to your breakfast.
Turkish breakfasts are prized for being exceptionally hearty and nutritionally balanced, and containing fresh, local ingredients. And Van City (Van) Breakfast takes it to a whole new level with dishes you've probably never heard of.
The latest trend in Turkish breakfasts actually started more than a decade ago, and that is to indulge in a lavish VanCity breakfast in a restaurant that specializes in such things. While the ultimate experience is breakfast in VanCity, this breakfast has become so popular that there are breakfast places all over the country that specialize in VanCity breakfasts.
Why Van Province?
Van is a region located in eastern Turkey and is marked by the spectacular Lake Van, which is also the largest lake in Turkey. The region is home to many civilizations and cultures and dates back to the ninth century BC as the capital of the Urartu Kingdom. The region is home to spectacular sites such as the 1,200-year-old Akdamar Church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van, which is on UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. Similarly, efforts are being made to have the "Van City Breakfast" inscribed on UNESCO's cultural heritage list.
In 2014, the city also broke the Guinness World Record for the "world's most crowded breakfast table", with 51,793 people enjoying breakfast in front of another ancient site, the Van Fort, which dates back to the ninth century BC. Van, also located on the Silk Road, had traditional dairies where people would stop for breakfast. Since then, the area has become known for its diverse and unique dishes, taking Turkish breakfast to a whole new level. Today, breakfast restaurants are located throughout the city, along with dozens of restaurants concentrated on a street called Kahvaltclar ars (translation: Breakfast Street), which, as the name implies, is dedicated to restaurants serving breakfast. Notable restaurants include sembol ocakbaşı and cihangir sosyal tesisleri , where the breakfasts are authentic.