When you find yourself in Turkey – you may be a bit confused with just how helpful and friendly the people are. Especially if you come from a “me-first” kind of city like New York :)
It took us a bit to really realize that the people were trying to be helpful and not put us through a ruse!! With that …
We went with Çem, the son of the Mustaffa owner of the Aydinli Cave House, to their second cousin’s restaurant Dibek Traditional Cook – which turns out to be one of the top local spots Göreme. It’s one of the places we would have passed by without glancing twice – as it is in a 450 Year old stable; and not much to look at from the outside. But like all good things in life, it’s what’s on the side that matters!
Dibek specializes in slow-cooked Testi Kebabı; a complete meal cooked in a sealed terra-cotta pot. The pot is served in its ceramic entirety, then broken at the table. For this specific dish, you need to make a reservation as it takes about 3 hours to be prepared! So worth it!!! There are meat and vegetarian options, we chose the mushrooms, eggplant with tomato, pepper, potato, and garlic … my mouth is watering as I type this!
Other local specialties included:
Kurufasulye – oven cooked white beans in tomato and chili pepper sauce, topped with chopped tomatoes and green peppers sided with a perfect cucumber- onion salad.
Mantı – a surviving Ottoman recipe consisting of handmade pasta filled with meat or cheese and crushed chickpeas. Then steamed, and served topped with a yogurt garlic sauce and sprinkled with sumac.
Cacık – a perfect condiment of cucumbers and garlic mixed with yogurt, dressed in olive oil and mint.
We kept our dinner for the last evening in Cappadocia, and regret it a little. Dibek Traditional Cook is hands down THE BEST restaurant we went to during our entire excursion – and we should’ve had dinner there every evening!!
Oh yes, they also have delicious homemade wine :)
Dibek Traditional Cook
(90) 384 271 2209
Konak Sokak 50650 Göreme
Nevşehir TÜRKİYE
OPEN HOURS:
18:00 – 13:30
