GustoMesh
Sofra hazırlanıyor…
İçeriğe atlaGustoMesh
Interface in English — venue and dish content is currently in Turkish. Full translation is on the way.
What are you in the mood for?
Tell us what you are craving and we will do the rest. The suggestions shift as you choose, and each one says why it appeared and what balances it at the table.
Pick a craving (You can choose more than one.)
Something sweetsyrupy, milky, lightly sweetSomething sourlemony, tempered, yogurt-basedSomething hotisot pepper, chili flakesSomething saltycheese, cured meatSpice-forwardcinnamon, cumin, garlicLightolive oil, vegetables, coolFillingmeat, dough, oven-bakedRefreshingyogurt, mint, served cold
Dietary preference
Hot and refreshing is a good pair: a yogurt-based side next to a spicy plate is the way to balance it.
9 suggestions
An example of a sherbet where sour fruit is balanced with sugar and measured spices; not every spice mixture is a secret recipe of the palace.
Why this: Spice-forward → baharatlı · Light → hafif · Refreshing → serinletici · sour
Table balance
- Alongside
- Plain rice or fresh bread rounds the acidity and steadies the plate.
- Afterwards
- After a spice-forward plate, a plain herbal infusion clears the palate. After a light main there is room for a syrupy dessert in this meal.
A drinkable form of yogurt; the process of making ayran is distinct and related to butter production, and blending does not create the same product.
Why this: Light → hafif · Refreshing → yoğurtlu · Something salty → tuzlu
Table balance
- Alongside
- Unsalted bread and plenty of water; a second salty side would dull the plate.
- Afterwards
- After a light main there is room for a syrupy dessert in this meal.
From Gaziantep cuisine; roasted eggplant is mashed with garlic yogurt, topped with sautéed diced meat or ground meat. The smoky flavor combines with the coolness of the yogurt on a single plate.
Why this: Spice-forward → közlenmiş · Refreshing → yoğurtlu · Filling → orta ağırlık · richness
Table balance
- Alongside
- Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate. Grilled pepper and tomato with sumac onion is the classic foil to the smoke of the fire.
- To drink
- Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
A dish from Gaziantep that brings the season of fresh garlic to a yogurt-based meat dish; dried garlic does not provide the same texture.
Why this: Spice-forward → taze-sarımsaklı · Refreshing → yoğurtlu · Filling → orta ağırlık
A sweet-salty Ottoman dish made with chicken cooked with apricot, grape, almond, and honey; it carries on the palace kitchen's tradition of fruity meat dishes.
Why this: Spice-forward → tarçınlı · Something salty → tatlı-tuzlu · Filling → orta ağırlık · sweet
A finely chopped mezze from Gaziantep made with tomatoes and peppers, blended with paste, vinegar, and spices; an indispensable accompaniment to kebabs.
Why this: Spice-forward → acılı · Light → hafif · Something hot → acılı · sour
Table balance
- Alongside
- Cacık or plain yogurt: dairy tames chili heat far faster than water does. Plain rice or fresh bread rounds the acidity and steadies the plate.
- Afterwards
- After a light main there is room for a syrupy dessert in this meal.
- Easy to miss
- Iced water only masks the heat for a moment; it comes back quickly. On a meze table balance beats variety: one yogurt-based, one olive-oil, one sharp is enough.
A thick meze made from strained yogurt, cheese, and heated oil with mint; it retains its shape on the plate.
Why this: Spice-forward → naneli · Light → hafif · Refreshing → naneli
Table balance
- Afterwards
- After a light main there is room for a syrupy dessert in this meal.
- Easy to miss
- On a meze table balance beats variety: one yogurt-based, one olive-oil, one sharp is enough.
Grilled Bluefish
in seasonThe esteemed fish of the Bosphorus is grilled over a controlled strong fire; its season is autumn.
Why this: Spice-forward → ızgara · Something salty → deniz · Filling → orta ağırlık
Table balance
- Alongside
- Arugula, lemon and thin-sliced onion; fish needs no heavy sauce beside it.
A historical palace dish that combines meat, dried fruits, and nuts with a balance of honey; it is a relative of Mahmudiye.
Why this: Something salty → tatlı-tuzlu · Filling → orta ağırlık · sweet
Table balance
- Alongside
- Grilled pepper and tomato with sumac onion is the classic foil to the smoke of the fire.
Suggestions are about taste balance, not health or nutrition advice. Scores are derived from each record's own flavour description.