Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

chocolate-crowned profiteroles or a fırın sütlaç (rice pudding) tasting of milk, sugar and just a hint of exotic spices. Other Turkish sweet specialities worth sampling are dondurma, the local ice cream; kadayıf, dough soaked in syrup and topped with a layer of kaymak (clotted cream); künefe, layers of kadayıf cemented together with sweet cheese, doused in syrup and served hot with a sprinkling of pistachio; and katmer (flaky pastry stuffed with pistachios and kaymak ).

Baklava – this traditional sweet needs no introduction | TIMURTAS ONAN/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

FAST FOOD The nation’s favourite fast food is undoubtedly döner kebap – lamb slow cooked on an upright revolving skewer and then shaved off to be stuffed into bread. Soggy cold French fries and green chillies are sometimes included; at other times salad and a sprinkling of slightly sour sumac are the accompaniments.