In-Season Turbot

Misina Göztepe-Istanbul Istanbul’s fishing season follows a calendar that city residents follow closely and that food enthusiasts know well. The January–March period is turbot season. Guided by this calendar, the Friends of the Kitchen Association held its first “Friends’ Dinner” of 2025 under the theme “In-Season Turbot” at Misina Fish Restaurant. The meticulously prepared menu featured not only turbot—the noble fish of the Marmara and Black Sea—but also a variety of other select seafood, each presented like a work of art. The gathering began with dishes such as the Spanish vinegar-marinated anchovy appetizer Boquerones, sea bream carpaccio, salmon gravlax, and torik lakerda with Ayvalık olive oil, followed by grilled octopus served with mussel saganaki and asparagus. The turbot, served with a salad of Aegean herbs, was cooked in the tandır (clay oven) style, and was paired with Efe Sarı Zeybek Üç Meşe wine. After Suat Yılmaz, a member of the Friends of the Kitchen Association, explained the turbot and the tandır technique, he skillfully filleted the fish—its flavor was so exquisite it will linger on the palate until next year’s turbot season. The pineapple purée and fig panna cotta served after the meal, with their light flavors, complemented the seafood menu without overpowering it, perfectly rounding out the lingering taste. Featuring eight different types of seafood and fish, the menu served as a tribute to the region’s rich culinary heritage. With every detail meticulously planned to honor the turbot’s reputation, this unforgettable evening concluded with a traditional thank-you ceremony. Certificates were presented to Executive Chef Ferhat Kurt and Restaurant Manager Bayram Sevgi, and a plaque was presented to Suat Yılmaz on behalf of Misina Balık. We also thanked Murat Karahan on behalf of Efe Rakı for his support. As our friends were leaving the event, they were presented with olive oils from Lezzeti Tireden as part of our “tooth rent” custom. Another gathering of friends, fragrant with the scent of the sea, came to a close amid the joy of being together.