Join Bold Fork Books' founder Clementine Thomas and actor/filmmaker + Turkey-lover Clare Louise Frost for a 9 day, 9 night culinary journey to Istanbul and the Aegean. 

Embark on an unforgettable gastronomic adventure through two of Turkey’s most captivating regions - vibrant Istanbul and the sun-drenched Aegean. You’ll explore the history, culture, and flavors that make up Turkey’s rich culinary landscape. 

This immersive journey blends hands-on cooking, market visits, and a range of wine tasting and dining experiences exploring the diverse flavors of Istanbul, Anatolia, and the Aegean. There will also be ample time to enjoy some of Turkey’s most iconic landmarks and scenery - from the fresh breezes of the Aegean to the famed Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.

Enjoy Turkish breakfast at our hotel.

We'll explore the historic peninsula of Constantinople/Istanbul, walking across the Golden Horn to the Spice Bazar, Yeni ("New") Mosque, Rüstem Paşa Mosque, then up through the bustling Mahmut Paşa pedestrian shopping district to the Grand Bazar, Haghia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque.

We'll eat a warm meal together at a classic "sulu yemek" - hot plate lunch restaurant - right outside the Grand Bazar. Wood-panelling, white tablecloths, and some very tasty rice, beans, and stews.

Enjoy some downtime before our evening's activities, or, if you prefer, spend the afternoon seeing a historic sight or visiting a museum.

Turkish wine expert and longtime industry insider Gözdem Gürbüzatik will guide us through the socio-political and agricultural history of wine production in Anatolia, from its earliest beginnings to the present day. Discover why the Turkish wine industry has evolved as it has—and what makes it truly unique in the world of wine.

Gözdem will also lead us through a tasting of many excellent, exciting Turkish wines, made with indigenous Anatolian grapes, from several wine areas across Turkey.

We'll enjoy dinner together at a favorite local Southeastern Turkish kebab joint.

Istanbul is home to millions of internal migrants from the four corners of Anatolia. Thankfully, Anatolians from the Southeast of Turkey brought their delicious grilled meats and bulgur pilafs with them!

We'll pick you up from the hotel after breakfast for our flight to Izmir.

An hour van ride to Istanbul Airport to our domestic Turkish Airlines flight to Izmir, about an hour and a half flight.

Welcome to the Aegean! Izmir, previously Smyrna, is our entry port to the region. Coastal, laidback Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey, and about an hour from Alaçatı's more small-town and rural peninsula.

Walking distance to our workshops at Asma Yaprağı, Villa Taraça is a B&B housed in a 19th century Greek landowner's villa. Lush gardens and patios, and a rich Turkish breakfast, make this local and family run hotel a true Aegean gem.

We'll sample the wonderful seasonal menu at Asma Yaprağı ahead of our two-day workshop with Chef Ayşe Nur. Magically spread over greenhouses and the gardens of the property, Chef Ayşe Nur and her team use produce from their own fields to serve beautifully fresh, fragrant, elegantly accessible Aegean cuisine.

Enjoy homemade Turkish breakfast at Villa Taraça before we walk about ten minutes to Asma Yaprağı for Day One of our workshop.

Chef Ayşe Nur and her team will lead us through what makes Aegean cuisine so unique and so special. We'll be in Alaçatı at the start of lush green spring, when the fields are beginning to explode with the famous Aegean greens - leafy greens, fava, artichoke, wild herbs, and more.

Dinner on your own -- explore Alaçatı's many delights!

Alaçatı is a historic Aegean-Greek town, now a holiday destination. Wander old Alaçatı's cobblestone streets brimming with small shops, restaurants, and bars. Find pastry shops specializing in the area's mastic flavored cookies, enjoy cocktails at hip cafes, or find a quiet table al fresco to enjoy a bite and watch the world go by.

Enjoy our last homemade breakfast at Villa Taraça before our van ride to the nearby Urla wine region.

A 30-minute van ride to Urla, one of Turkey's wine districts.

We will visit Urla wineries and get an on-the-ground understanding of the Turkish wine scene -- what Turkish winemakers doing in their vineyards and cellars, the market that they're building, and, of course, we'll taste the wines!

We'll stay tonight at Urla Bağevi ("Vineyard) Hotel, a boutique B&B in the heart of the Urla wine country.

Dinner together at our hotel, with tasty local dishes, and Urla wine!

We say goodbye to the peaceful, green Aegean with a final breakfast at Urla Bağevi Hotel.

An hour van ride back to the Izmir Airport, for our domestic flight back to Istanbul.

Our return flight on Turkish Airlines back to Istanbul. We'll then take vans back to The Bank Hotel, and check back in.

Welcome back to our Istanbul home!

We have many suggestions for walks, museums, sites, and snacking.

Hamams will be booked in advance at our favorite Ottoman-era historic hamam, walking distance to The Bank Hotel.

We have many recommendations from fine dining to casual cafes! The rooftop terrace of the hotel also has cocktails and snacks, and a restaurant with a view over the Golden Horn, with a contemporary Turkish menu.

After breakfast, we'll pick you up at the hotel and bring you to the Karaköy ferry dock to take a ferry across the Bosphorous to the Asian Side of Istanbul. Enjoy sweeping views of the city as we glide across the water!

We'll land in Kadıköy, with its wonderful pedestrian shopping area, with cafes, coffee shops, rock & roll bars, bookstores, upscale delis, and speciality food shops.

We'll be sampling from the many food shops -- Turkish coffee, traditional pastries and candies, olives, cheeses, pickles, meze, nuts, and more! -- and tasting street food and snacks. We'll finish our morning with a special visit to a favorite ice cream shop in Moda.

You are free after our visit to Kadıköy to stay on the Asian Side or take the ferry back to the European Side, and enjoy an afternoon exploring magical Istanbul.

We are on hand to help you plan your best afternoon. Hamams may be scheduled for this afternoon. We can also bring you to the Grand Bazar for shopping or browsing.

We'll pick you up from the hotel after breakfast to bring you on the tram to Fındıkzade, a diverse working-class neighborhood with a famous weekly street market.

The tram ride from the hotel is about 40 minutes.

Come see how the neighborhood really shops for its food! This market is an icon of Istanbul neighborhood street markets, and takes place every Friday.

Everything from seasonal produce, cheese, olives, eggs, spices, dried beans, rices, bulgur... to the latest in market kitchenware and pajamas!

Let us book you a hamam, arrange a tour of the Grand Bazar, or do your spice shopping at the Spice Bazar. Museums of contemporary or Islamic art treasures, vibrant neighborhoods and more!

We will work with everyone to make sure you can make the most out of our last day in Istanbul.

Cheers to a wonderful trip together !

We'll have dinner together at one of our favorite contemporary Turkish spots, in hip Cihangir.