Brenda Farrell | Turkey & Lifestyle Travel Specialist

Reserve your place on this private tour of Turkey in October 2010.

Everyone who takes a “blue cruise” in Turkey loves the experience of cruising the turquoise waters of the Aegean or Mediterranean on a traditional wooden sailboat (gulet.)  The scenery is beautiful, the options for swimming, snorkeling, etc. unlimited and the cuisine is always fresh and delicious.  Imagine, then, when I [...]

When I was in Istanbul last month, staying at my favourite resting place, luxury hotel Sumahan-on-the-Water, I decided to unwind after a particularly hectic schedule and to experience one of my favourite forms of relaxation, the hamam.  The hamam at Sumahan is spotlessly clean, particularly beautiful and sets the scene [...]

Another dish that I will present on the Turkey Culinary stage at Eat! Vancouver, this is a simple dish, served at room temperature.
This delicious appetizer, so simple to make, is traditionally offered before tea on special occasions.  In restaurants, it is often served as a meze (hors d’oeuvre) along with [...]

I recently spent a day in the kitchen with celebrated Turkish gourmet, Engin Akin where, in addition to learning the subtleties of Turkish pilav, I also learned how to make this simple, yet very elegant sweet dish that blends the Ottoman preference for sweet and sour taste combinations.  I will [...]