After our last dinner in Istanbul, my husband and I walked around the neighborhood and stumbled upon a small baklava shop. It was a really cute space. The treats on display looked good. I opted for a small piece and paid in leftover lira. The shop owner was super nice albeit looked a little bored at that time in the evening. I'm sure he was anxious to close up. We ate inside the shop at one of the empty tables and then we left. The baklava was delicious with the crispy layered phyllo dough in syrup and the generous layers of pistachios. Did you know that baklava originates from Turkiye? Well, it has been argued that it originated from either Turkiye or Persia. In 2008, the Turkish patent office registered a geographical indication for Antep Baklava, and in 2013, Antep Baklavası was registered as a Protected Geographical Indication by the European Commission. Antep baklava is the first Turkish product to receive a protected designation from the European Commission. Although the history of baklava is not well documented, an archaic version of baklava is said to have been prepared in the Byzantine empire, while its Turkish version was probably developed in the imperial kitchens of the Topkapı Palace in Constantinople (modern Istanbul). read more

See all