Are you ready to give your taste buds an aromatic tour unlike any other? Good. We thought so.
Chef Kemal Demirasal and his team opened up Alancha at the Maçka Kempinski Residence (the original is still open in Alaçatı). The tasting menu is a feast festival which literally requires a minimum of two hours and includes 18 perfectly-sized tasting dishes: all of which are inspired from Anatolian cuisine, history and cooking techniques, and artfully prepared and presented with a Nordic minimalist style. (Wine pairing and juice pairing are also available.) Their dimly-lit restaurant is upscale yet down-to-earth. The Alancha team is friendly, knowledgeable, and you get to meet them all as they present and explain their dishes.
So rally all your favorite foodie buddies and be prepared to have all your senses awakened.
Alancha
Maçka Kempinski Residence, Hüsrev Gerede Caddesi, Şehit Mehmet Sokak No:9, Maçka – (0212) 261 35 35 (map here)
Price: the menu is 240 TL per person (excluding drinks). The wine pairing is 160 TL per person.
The tasting menu is served every day for dinner and the last reservation can be made for 21:00.
Hours:
Mon-Sat: lunch 11:30-16:30, dinner 18:00-02:00
Sun: Linner 12:00-20:00
(Summer schedule: closed for lunch on weekdays, closed on Sundays, weekday dinners start at 19:00)
Our dinner at Alancha was one of a kind. Being a food lover I was very impressed by their concoctions of tastes and the presentation of food. A combination of commonly eaten ingredients and less known ingredients made for truly unique food. You could tell there was some proper creativity in making these dishes.
We opted for the 4-course dinner paired with wine and not one dish disappointed.
The staff was knowledgeable and you could tell they loved to work there.
I am looking forward to the next time when we plan to do the the tasting menu.
Thanks Canim Istanbul for making me aware of this place!