At home in Gokyuzu

In between house duties, house duties and more house duties I have occasionally managed to go for a little wander around my new area. I was told that of the millions of Turkish restaurants lining Green Lanes, that one stands out so last weekend I tracked it down. 

Gokyuzu doesn't look particularly special from the outside - just one of many Turkish restaurants with kebabs in the window and a steaming hot counter for takeaway just inside the door. You can tell from looking in that it is nearly always full, that plates are also pretty full and that the people eating there look relaxed and satisfied. This place makes you feel as though you are one of the family as soon as you step through the door. They immediately lead you to a recently vacated table (the turn around is tremendous) and seated. 

Seconds later a basket of warm flatbread and a dish of tzatziki is placed in front of you, closely followed by menus. If you look around, you'll notice that regulars don't really look at these and just order a long string of things before going back to their conversation. The place has that kind of casual atmosphere that can only be created by 2/3 of the tables being made up of people who go there at least once per week. I love it and am fully intending on becoming one of them very soon.

Most dishes come with rice and salad. They serve the salad first with the meze even when ordered as part of the main so you can pick on lovely fresh veg throughout. The mixed meze is a delight, especially the aubergine dishes which you can choose from. 

Meat portions are hefty and great value, making sharing pretty much mandatory. If you slightly under order you'll find yourself full. If you order a normal amount, you'll be stuffed and if you over order you can take a huge bag of it home with you. Their meat is lean and grilled - perfect for leftovers.

 

As we were finishing up our meal, I spotted this incredible looking dish on the table next to ours. I immediately asked what it was and found my neighbour to be a fellow food blogger! Celia Brooks writes a fantastic recipe for this herself, which I'm yet to make myself but will very soon. The dish is called Yayla Corbasi and is a rice and yoghurt soup. Celia's post gives the history of this traditional Turkish dish so head over there to take a look (link here). I can't wait to make it at home.

In the meantime I'm already planning my return to Gokyuzu to taste theirs... Like I said, soon I'll be part of the furniture.

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Girlie Paris Weekender

A girlie weekender à Paris called for a shabby chic hotel. Straight off the train, we walked further than we thought we'd have to, dragging our bags and into the bustling restaurant reception of Hotel Amour. The room wasn't ready so we dropped our bags, were promised an upgrade and set off on our way to Montmartre.

We only had 24 hours in Paris, so there was no time to be lost. Five hours of walking, a fromage et charcuterie plate and face full of wine later we came back to the hotel. 

When they said 'upgraded', what they didn't say was 'upgraded to a room that contains over 200 disco balls and the same number of pornographic polaroids.' Baaaah ouai!

The view from the hotel was as impressive as the room itself (although in a very different way). 

Dinner was at Aux Deux Amis on Rue Oberkampf - we were pretty pleased with the name and thought we would give it a try. Aux Deux amis has an extensive wine list, though if your experience is like ours you will not be allowed to choose your own. The rather charming sommelier made his recommendation based on what we were eating and it was very nice indeed. The food menu changes daily but can be relied upon to have a fantastic selection of fish, meat and veggies.

Rare boeuf with capers

Guinnea Fowl in broth

Creamed leeks with squash and chestnuts

Bream tartare with beetroot and creme fraiche 

Poached pear in custard

As usual Anna and I got asked if we were sisters everywhere we went. 

For afters we walked to Mary Celeste for their legendary cocktail list. It did not disappoint.

When we were sufficiently boozed up, we grabbed a taxi to Dirty Dick; the Paris Tiki Bar that swallows you whole, cover you in coconut juice and rum and then spits you back into the night.

The ones that come still in the coconut were too sweet for me, so I opted for a take on a Caipirinhia which was excellent. Meanwhile Anna went all out.

We went on to the club opposite after a few hours. Luckly by that time I had forgotten to carry on photographing. This tiger's face says it all. 

The next morning was a bit of a blurr until we found pastry mecca.

The macaroons are serious. I didn't photograph the croissants - I didn't have time to before I had eaten them all. Whoops.

We wandered until our legs couldn't carry us any further...

When day turned to dusk we went back to the hotel to grab our bags and a bite (their burgers are great) and got back onto the Eurostar home. Bliss.

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Chicks and Mortar

I'm on the property ladder!

No, not here and also not moving any time soon. When it comes to houses, I am definitely the tortoise. I am plodding along laboriously lifting one tortoise foot in front of the other and trying not to panic too much about how I'll get there or where 'there' really is. That's what I have learnt to do with property - be patient and try not to think about the big picture too much.  Hopefully being the tortoise will end up being as good a thing as it promises in the fable. This is what I keep reminding myself. 

My urban cottage...

I've been meaning to check in and update you on where on earth I've been but eating tinned tuna for dinner whilst on the phone to two repair men at once isn't blog-worthy. I have also been a bit concerned that I'm losing my mind - I've developed a pathological fear of Grand Designs. If it comes on TV, I cover my eyes and start shouting "I can't look, I can't look. Is it going to be ok?". Pretty much the same reaction to the Saw series or the close ups of David Bowie's crotch in The Labyrinth. Oh Good.

Trauma aside, I am sorry that we've been so quiet recently. Mainly my usual to do list of (go to work, cook and eat nice things, write about it)  has been added to somewhat by a long list of glamorous activities:

Roof repair

Damp repair

Floor laying

Removing rotten windows

Even Mummy Floandelle is getting involved. Maybe we can start a renovation company called Chicks and Mortar once we're done with this one. 

...............etc. 

...................................etc.

..........................................................etc.

At some point it will become: choose tiles for the kitchen, find the right pantone to make the bathroom feel eternally sunny and wall paper the door to the roof terrace (actual interesting blog posts). For nowthough I'm keeping my damp and timber problems to myself. Flo is off sunning herself and eating steak in Argentina. Watch this space for more exciting posts very soon. 

See you soon! In the meanwhile if you're interested in my project I'm all over Pinterest. 
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