We love street food.

There isn't a country in the world where you don’t see street food and like they say; if you want to get really really local, then you just have to try the street food. Fortunately, having lived my whole life in India I have developed some level of immunity which helps as I can now confidently indulge!

Izmir has been no different… so apart from all the freshly squeezed juices, coffee and chai that’s carted around or driven around on cycles and motor bikes, there’s everything from corn on the cob to oysters. The oysters! No, I wouldn't try it even tho they’re in plenty when you walk down the seaside and everyone seems to be slapping on lime and eating them by the dozen. 

However, there’s tons I couldn't get enough of.

   My favorite by far has been the ‘Durum’; similar to shawarma, chicken or meat put into a wrap or a bun. They vary from vendor to vendor as I guess each has his own secret ingredient, but this never disappoints. The ice cream or dondurma as they call it here is to die for whether in a cone or between a sandwich. And you really can’t afford to walk around the bazaars and not pick up peanuts, cashew nuts or hazel nuts. Hotdogs, Simit (almost like a  bagel)... I could do those in passing.

Turkish delight is a whole different story; there’s so many varieties and flavors, you could try a different one each day and not get all the variations in a year.