Enjoy a Fresh Turkish Lunch with Gulsen

Gülşen is a bubbly, passionate host who is excited to share her culinary heritage, as well as a few tips, with guests. Gülşen will make you feel right at home in her modern, tastefully decorated apartment. Like many Turkish cooks, Gülşen prepares vegetable-focused meals with minimal meat. Rather than being the focus of the meal, meat is used sparingly to bring flavor to the dishes. She and her neighbor might prepare a variety of dolma (stuffed vegetables, be they grape leaves, peppers or tomatoes), white or brown rice (pilav), a carrot meze, zucchini fritters, çerkez tavuk (Circassian chicken, a meze of shredded, mashed chicken mixed with yogurt and chopped walnuts), babaganoush (roasted, mashed eggplant), Sema's perfectly balanced fava bean paste, and a fresh green salad. Your meal will start with a soup and end with a cup of Turkish coffee or tea and something sweet.