Last Friday Soulla went to a Turkish Restaurant (Ishtar)

The background

I am Cypriot and I am Greek. I was born in 1982. That is nine years after 1974. If you know your history well you would know that 1974 was when the Turkish invasion took place in Cyprus with many many ugly consequences for all Cypriots. Unsurprisingly, my education in a school filled with teachers for whom the war was a fresh memory and many of whom had lost their homes and loved ones in the war, was "slightly" nationalistic. Greeks good. Turks bad. Fight for freedom. Do not forget.

I do not want to go into the political situation in Cyprus because I have to admit that my knowledge of it is more sentimental than it is historical. But growing up I have understood that what I knew as facts were potentially biased versions of a truth that no one really knows. A truth which no one will tell you because no one ever really knew. I say this because so many people who all lived through the war and the years leading to it tell a very different story. And thus, as many of the kids in my generation I am in limbo as to what I believe and can describe much better what I feel about the situation instead. In my case, its raw fear. No anger, no hatred just fear of what could happen to upset the few things in life I consider as normality.

Friday night..

In any event my introduction is only to explain why I thought it was pretty strange when last Friday while sitting in Ishtar (a Turkish restaurant in Baker Street) I had a weird feeling of "this feels like home". I felt it was a bit wrong to feel that. But tough luck, I thought of it and I had to admit it. At least to myself..

The food was excellent. The hummus was great, the yogurt dip with spinach and garlick was even better. It is one of my favourite dips and I will certainly make it the next time I have people round for dinner. The bread was warm and fresh, the chicken shish (char grilled marinated chicken cubes with rice) and the iskender (grilled lamb on toasted bread with yogurt and tomato sauce) was spot on. My only complaint from the restaurant was that the portions were too big..but that just does not sound like me so I will shut up instead.

The waiters spoke with accents which resembled mine (or at least that of the lady who reads the news in Turkish on Cypriot television) and were genuinely smiley and warm.. Most of all the price was very reasonable (£45 for two - starters, main courses, coffee and beer including service).

We kept trying to think of Turkish words we know but could only come up with naughty words (just because these are used in the Cypriot dialect). I kept trying to think what "thank you" is in Turkish..I did not know it though. Unfortunately I do not think I have ever thanked anyone in Turkish before.. I have googled it since and can proudly say that it is "seni seviyorum".

And so "seni seviyorum" to the people at Ishtar for the good food and the great service!