Eat, for the journey is far

I am not a foodie. But I like to eat because the “journey is far”. This much was corroborated in the Bible (1st King’s 19:7), when “the angel of the Lord came a second time and woke Prophet Elijah to eat for the journey would be too much for him. Prophet Elijah, after that, ate, and he walked 40 days and nights. This biblical example has guided my stomach philosophy. Eat for the journey is far is an idiomatic expression that has gained traction. I had the opportunity to dine at the newly established Istanbul Restaurant and Cafe in Abuja sometime last week. I ate and could not stop eating until a voice, presumably a terrestrial or an ancestor, whispered in my ears to “stop eating and leave the rest for others”. I quickly obeyed as a mortal. But with a promise to document my experience.

As I sauntered into the restaurant located in Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja, I was awed by its sheer ambience. It is a twin set. It housed the Vento Furniture showroom as well. (I understand Istanbul Restaurant and Cafe is a signature from Vento Furniture). It sat comfortably overlooking the Jabi Lake. As I settled with my friend and brother, Hasan Yigit, he elected to show me around the restaurant. It was beautiful, from the main hall with seats well arranged in a typical Turkish style to the VIP area that can host meetings with huge TV screens for presentations, to the outdoor area overlooking the lake. I was astonished by the concept. I quickly asked my friend why he came up with the restaurant. His answer was straight and simple. “Istanbul restaurant is a complete Turkish experience in Nigeria”

He was right. Istanbul Restaurant and Cafe is a Turkish restaurant in Abuja, offering signature dishes guaranteed to tickle your taste buds. I was not disappointed after my experience. What captivated my attention was the open kitchen plan. Once you place an order, you can see how the meal is prepared until it is served on your table. I find this style interesting because open kitchens are an important aspect of restaurant design that can elevate not only the quality of the food but also the overall customer experience.

The restaurant is located within the showroom of Vento Furniture giving customers a unique view of the expansive showroom with an array of exquisite furniture on display. It is little wonder there is attention to detail in the setup of the restaurant, which is consistent with the typical Vento Furniture signature. The ambience is fantastic and the cuisines on display indeed complement it.

Permit me to give a rundown of the signature cuisines on display. For lovers of kebabs, Istanbul Restaurant is the place to be. The Istanbul special mix kebab is a delight with plain Turkish kebab, chicken skewers, tomatoes and eggplant.  There is also the chicken skewers kebab that comes with chicken skewers in a special sauce served with rice and roasted vegetables. Its Levantine lamb comes with lamb shoulder meat cooked for at least 10 hours and served in a crispy bread bowl. The chef’s kebab (chilly) is my favourite. It comes with minced meat and cheese between thin tortilla bread served with warm butter.

There are also some signature cuisines such as the Risotto di mare that consists of risotto with seafood, Giwan Ruwa fish served with special sauce, mushroom and matchstick potatoes, Beef Rossini comes in beef tenderloin with a demi-glace sauce and coated with butter. I can’t possibly do justice to the menu on display. It is akin to arrogating to myself the title of a foodie that I do not deserve. However, my point is that Istanbul restaurant and cafe has redefined the food space in Abuja and provides lovers of good food a place where they can please their palates, with great satisfaction. Please hold me responsible if you have a less-than-desirable experience whenever you visit the restaurant.

I believe cooking is an art. I remember the words of Chef René Frank, one of the world’s most renowned pastry chefs. he stated “Cooking is art. But only those who have mastered the craft can achieve that in the kitchen. This brings me to Chef Emre İdrİsoğlu of Istanbul Restaurant and Cafe, who according to what I gathered discovered his passion for the culinary arts at a young age, during his primary school years, driven by a desire to explore the richness of Turkish gastronomy. He also authored a cookbook titled “I Want to Be a Chef.

Sometimes I wonder why I didn’t take up cooking as a profession. For once, I regretted my non-decision after my interaction with Chef Emre İdrİsoğlu. With a smile, he said making food is magic. “It is a potent, alchemical process, through which one form is transformed into another form.” This much was corroborated by  Gwion Raven in an article titled  “Kitchen Witchery: The Connection Between Food & Magic”. In the article, Gwion Raven stated “Cookery is like alchemy, changing raw materials into something wholly new and yet still the same. There’s a paradox to food magic. It’s simultaneously easy and approachable and yet profound and mysterious.” This is deep and with my experience, it could thus be said that Istanbul Restaurant and Cafe is a magical place.

Please let me reiterate that I am not a foodie. I was only wowed after my dining experience at the Istanbul Restaurant and Cafe, where I savoured the flavour of rich Turkish, Mediterranean, and intercontinental cuisines. The Bible says to eat. And I ate. And I was glad I did. This is a toast to Istanbul Restaurant and Cafe. I will eat again, and so should you because the journey is far.

Ocheja, a military historian and doctoral researcher, is an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy.