Thursday 29 October 2009

Things I'd never done before moving to Turkey #2

Getting fairly excited about a dinner of tripe and liver. Had some last night, in fact.

What I had was a dish called 'kokorec'. You will often see it being sold on the streets (I don't think I've ever seen it in a restaurant).



It's basically intestines wrapped around a skewer and grilled over charcoal. Nice.

It's then chopped and put in a sandwich.


Now, what does that remind me of?

I think I'm going to buy me a cart and earn some cash down Covent Garden.
Tourists take note: You're going to get pissed and end up eating it so this is just a heads up to you. It is tripe.

You see, when Brits get pissed in Britain, they eat doner kebabs. When Turks get pissed in Turkey, they eat tripe. Either grilled in the form of kokorec or as the garlic-based soup, iskembe corbasi. Personally, nothing's going to tip the balance of an alcoholic queasy feeling quicker than the thought of tripe. Turks are hard as fucking nails. Even the girls.

My girlfriend, after a few shandies, likes nothing more than a plate of rice topped with a sheep's face. Rock hard.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

My friend made me eat this stuff in Kusadasi. You know the place up the stairs. Apparently it makes the best soup and everything else. Well needless to say she made me eat it before she told me what it was. She told me it tasted like stuffing. In this place they make it with lot of herbs in it...very tasty I have to say. I was surprised :P

Unknown said...

Had it by accident in a restaurant in Bursa last summer, so I know that is sold at least sometimes there as well as on the street. Didn't know what it was, took one bite and tried not to spit up in front of the waiter. Managed to get that mouthful down, but couldn't bring myself to eat more. Management took pity on me and didn't charge me for it. Funny how pork is treated with absolute disgust and disdain, but intestines are embraced and eaten with relish here. I love Turkey, and I love your blog.

btw: You quit smoking, eh? Aferin :)

Anonymous said...

you not veggie anymore??? :(