Of course you know that we love food. And I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that we consumed hearty quantities and a wide variety of food in Istanbul: on the streets, in restaurants, in a Turkish family’s home (more on that later)…

But what took this trip to another level from a culinary perspective was McKinze’s awesome anniversary gift to me: a day exploring the markets and preparing a three-course Turkish meal with an expert in Turkish cooking.

Oh, yes indeed.

The day began at a fish market on the Asian side of the city, across the Bosphorus Strait. The red things on the fish look like flowers, but they're actually the gills -- pulled out to show their freshness.

Everything was so vibrant, fresh and full of flavor.

Stopping for a couple different kinds of baklava -- a sweet and flaky Turkish dessert -- at one of the best shops in the city, according to our guide/chef.

The three mezes (appetizers/tapas/small plates) we made: Turkish yogurt & herbs, green beans with tomatoes and roasted eggplant puree.

The main course: fresh sea bass marinated and stuffed with herbs & spices, wrapped in parchment paper and baked in the oven.

Dessert: dried figs brought back to life with a syrup of tea and sugar, stuffed with chopped walnuts and clotted cream, and topped with fresh ground pistachios.

Happy chef, happy husband.

Our guide and chef for the day, Olga, moved to Istanbul from Russia after falling in love with the place (easy to do). She’s a real “foodie” and got most of her experience in Turkish cuisine working in a rustic restaurant on a farm, outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, before starting this business. She knows her food, has good relationships with the vendors we patronized throughout the day, and truly loves cooking and talking about food. I was pretty much in heaven. (If you go to Istanbul and want to do something like this, definitely check her out.)

By the end of the day — which went on a couple hours longer than scheduled because we were all having a great time — it felt like we were basically just hanging out in Olga’s apartment, drinking wine and talking. Lovely. She took us on an extended walk back to the ferry along the shore of the Sea of Marmara as sunset approached, where we boarded our boat and headed back to Europe: happy, smarter and very, very full.

Me, McKinze and Olga

If you’re interested in seeing more pictures from the day, check them out here.