Have you ever cooked Turkish food? Before I wrote this article I would have had to think about that question. Now, having done some research I realize that if I have ever played with fire, spices and a piece of protein I’ve cooked Turkish. The Ottoman Empire covered a lot of ground for a very long time, and their influence can be seen in the food of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Some would consider it one of the three great cuisines along with French and Chinese. I personally don’t agree one hundred percent with that train of thought. But, that’s for another article at another time.
When I heard Nighthawk Restaurant was going to hire Turkish chefs to cook Turkish cuisine, my interest was piqued. I recently spoke to Fiko Uslu, the owner of Nighthawk, and asked what exactly we had to look forward to with the recent transformation to more Turkish fare.
Fiko explained that besides some of the Mediterranean dishes doing well on the menu, the new chefs will be adding some kebabs with chicken and lamb and other proteins that are quite tasty and very authentic. The restaurant will also be adding some Turkish meze or small appetizer size dishes that go well in the summer months. These dishes are meant to be combined as a plate with three or four together and to be shared among the table.
Fiko also told me that a breakfast café is coming, and something I’m very excited about—a Turkish coffee machine is being shipped from Turkey as I write this.
So, if I’ve piqued your interest at all, after you stroll along the Hudson River, take a turn at Christopher Street and head east to find something maybe you’ve never had before or something you’ve missed. Either way, support our small gems in the West Village.
