Blog 2: First Adana tastes, 2012

Blog 2: First tastes in 2012

So this Blog starts on my 5^th trip here to Adana, in November 2012. I have explored many sites already in previous trips but will revisit them again this time as a little familiarity is nice. Unfortunately in Istanbul our little boy had an allergic reaction requiring us to go to emergency hospital upon our arrival in Adana but I will describe that later as it was a useful experience to convey to others not experienced with Turkish hospitals.

I will start this blog one the first day my son is better and we have a chance to explore. My wife and I set out today walk the streets leaving my son sleeping in the safe hands of his grandparents.

Day 1: My wife loves making her own jewellery and Adana is a wonderful source of authentic beads and materials for her hobby. We set off to walk into the middle of the markets district. On KURUKOPRU MAHALLESI 33036 Sokak (street)  Adana you will find a number of bead and material stores and the streets that surround you can get lost in the stores filled will a wide array of goods, clothing, authentic Turkish glasses and ordainments or all types and ofcourse the cheap knock offs. I won’t detail the blog on this as there are so many and really, I want to get to the food today! J Hungry!! J

Adana Kebab – This is the best type of Kebab you will eat in Turkey and is famous around the world. Don’t think of a Kebab as your traditional Kebab you get at your chain fast food store in Australia. Adana Kebab is a long strip of the most delicious lamb mince with a secret array of spices cooked perfectly over a coal fire and laid out over authentic Turkish bread and served with many salads and more layers of bread. You basically combine little slices of the lamb strips with all the salads of your choosing, squeezed lemon and wrap it all up Turkish bread provided and “LEZZETLI” DELISOUS!!

This day we set out to find a little inexpensive Kebab store we always go to only to be disappointed when we found a Fashion store has taken its place. We enquired with the shop owner next door and he recommended us a Adana Kebab store just around the corner which he said was even better and where all the locals go for good Kebab.

HACI SALiH – Kabab Ve Lahmacun Salonu – (address: Kurukopru Mah, Yeni Camii Yani 33019 Sk)

I am pleased to say he was right. It’s no wonder we missed it before, it is marked by a little black and white sign “ Kebapci Haci Salih” above a little white gate doorway that you could easily miss if you didn’t know it was there.

When you walk in you come in a medium size “saloon” room with practical but nice tables and chairs. Above is a canopy of pomegranate trees surrounded by high white tiled walls to make the feel like a little hideaway. Very nice really. You can also  sit inside in another room which hosts the coal oven that your food is prepared on. I found this feature added so much to the feel and atmosphere about the restaurant.

 

Make no mistake, HACI SALiH is not a fine dinning restaurant you pay a fortune meals and dining experience, but it’s not trying to be. It’s an inexpensive little restaurant that is neat and clean and we found it great, and perfect for what we were looking for.

The food: I love my salads and I give them a 9/10 for variety and taste. The mix was good, the spices right and there was more than we could eat. The Adana Kebab lamb strip was cooked and spiced just right and delicious. The service good, all though they did ask us “is there anything else you would like” whilst we had our mouths full, preventing an answer. Lol  

My wife ordered Ayran, the typical Turkish side drink at meals, which is a savoury yogurt drink (Half yogurt, half water and salt). I ordered the Coke because I have never quite taken to having a savoury drink as apposed to a sweet one with a meal. However, the ayran at this restraint I have to admit was quite refreshing and nice to the pallet.

http://www.topnews.in/clove-best-antioxidant-spice-2256625

Before you leave, refresh your mouth with a little cloves at the desk where you pay. (be sure to leave a little tip – not compulsory but customary) We rounded 24 lira to 25 etc. These little natural plant pieces have a strong peppermint type taste and will clean your mouth. Beware, they can be hot to the lips so crush a little with your teeth to get the effect (don’t swallow) and then throw the twig away.

We had 2 Adana Kebabs complete with salads, a Coke, 1 glass of Iran, the water complimentary, all for the low price of 24 Turkish lira, (Approximately $15 Australia) That’s excellent value!

Next stop was Ataturk Park Adana which is the place we arranged to meet up with my wife’s parents and our son. But before doing so we made a detour as it was hot today and we had need for refreshment. There is a little store which I knew from past trips that sell these amazing smoothies to die for!

MESUT CAFÉ – Inonu Cd (Street).

Besides the refreshing freshly squeezed pomegranate juice and a number of other unique drinks they have this super shake/ smoothie called ATOM. This is truly an ATOM BOMB as it’s meal in a glass or should I say glasses because you get 1 large glass and 2nd over flow smaller glass. The ATOM is filled with a host of natural ingredients and probably some ice-cream or yogurt.  

The result is a bit like a banana smoothie but so much more. It’s a meal fit for two but I admit, many a time indulging myself alone on this fantastic smoothie. A must try once in any trip to Adana. Be warned, it will fill you up so don’t do before any planned meal (or just after for that matter like us today! Omg so filled!! Lol )

Next stop – Attaturk Park

  

A beautiful park in the heart of Adana. Beautifully maintained gardens, many areas to sit and chat and enjoy the flowers and the surrounds. There is a exercise area with lots of exercise park equipment, statues of famous figures (Ataturk of course), water  fountains (some interactive for the kids or young at heart) a nice park Café to enjoy tea or enjoy a quiet game of “OKAY” and you can even interact with the pigeons and buy some seed to feed them.

   

It’s a big park so they have security wandering around to ensure your safety. It’s very safe of a day but I would think twice about walking through there of a night.

Right across the road (northern side – Not Ataturk Statue side), there is a playground for kids. This again set in gardens, consists of 4 slides, 2 sea saws and some swings.

These are not the OH&S friendly slides like swings we have back at home with the nice soft-fall at the base. You won’t find soft-fall here. This playground is more like a 1970’s or 1980’s playground in Australia, metal tall slides on to dirt, wooden swings an sea saws that lack rails. Yes they can be used and are fun, but you might want to catch your kids at the base of slide or go down with them to be on the safe side. My son enjoyed it but we had to supervise at all times.

That’s enough for today. Cheers Andrew