Eating out on a Northern Cyprus holiday is a great way to experience the local culture, and with so many delectable dishes you won’t want to leave until you’ve tried all of them. So make like a local and try some local cuisine on your holiday in Northern Cyprus.
Northern Cyprus is a Turkish republic and as such many of the dishes are similar, if not identical to traditional Turkish cuisine. However, many die hard foodies would argue that the dishes in Northern Cyprus differ in that modern European and Asian influences are also becoming apparent. But whilst mainland Europe may be influencing their cuisine it certainly isn’t influencing their restaurants. On your holiday in Northern Cyprus you won’t find any of the standard fast food joints, such as McDonalds or KFC, but rather you will find Northern Cyprus a haven away from these towers of western civilisation. Restaurants in Northern Cyprus are nothing if not traditional and on your Northern Cyprus holiday you will be spoilt for choice when looking for somewhere to try the local cuisine.
You’ll be surprised to see a country with a climate as warm as Cyprus offering soups on their menus, but soups are generally served as the beginning to a meal. On your holiday in Northern Cyprus order the lentil soup, which is a favourite with the locals. Although hummus and tarhana soups are both commonly sold, both of which are just as nice.
More traditionally a meal on your Northern Cyprus holiday will begin with meze, which is the Turkish equivalent of the Spanish tapas. Meze are a selection of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres traditionally served with drinks in order to get the appetite going. They often consist of fifteen small dishes, from hummus and spicy meatballs to cheese filled filo pastry, olives, hellim and calamari. Remember, that this is only the beginning of a meal on your holiday in Northern Cyprus, so as the Turkish say, eat it ‘yavas, yavas’, or ‘slowly, slowly’. As a tourist, you will be offered plenty of raki on your Northern Cyprus holiday and refusing a drink will only cause great offence to your hosts. Raki is an aniseed spirit which turns cloudy when added to water, the locals refer to it as ‘lion’s milk’ and it is commonly served with fish meze dishes.
The Turkish are big meat eaters, but as the majority of them are Muslim you won’t find any pork served on your Northern Cyprus holiday. Instead most traditional dishes contain either lamb or chicken. Kebabs are the most popular dish in Northern Cyprus, however the traditional variety is nothing like the dish that you may purchase after a heavy night on the tiles. Rather ‘kebab’ is the name given to a traditional dish cooked in a ceramic pot. Kebab meat is either stewed or grilled over a charcoal fire and served in a marinade with vegetables and fresh pitta bread on the side.
On your holiday in Northern Cyprus you simply must try the local deserts. A popular saying in Cyprus is that one should eat sweetly and speak sweetly; and the friendly Turkish certainly manage to do both. Honey and nuts form the basis for most of the deserts and lokma, which are cakes deep fried in honey are simply delicious.
Of course after that incredible feast you’ll need something to wash it all down with, so end your meal with the national drink on your Northern Cyprus holiday. Brandy sour is commonly served as an aperitif with lemon juice and soda. Raise a glass and as the Turkish say ‘Sagligniza’!
Author Resource:-
Shereena Lingiah is the Marketing Manager for Anatolian Sky a travel company that provide the best holidays to Northern Cyprus (http://www.anatoliansky.co.uk/Home/Holidays-in-North-Cyprus.aspx) at competitive prices. They provide holidays to Turkey and North Cyprus, including the Anatolian region.
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