Kadir Usta in Gazientep

This is an extract from the book Travel tales from Exotic Places like Salford

Alternate black and white stones line the windows of the Kurtulus Camii mosque in Gazientep. This was most noticeable architectural feature I saw as I walked around the outer wall. I eventually found an open gate and walked through. There was a good view of the minaret in the late evening sun and I took a couple of pictures. As I looked at some further possible images through the viewfinder I gradually became aware of someone watching me. A man wearing a woolly hat and yellow Wellington boots smiled at me and said some words while pointing at a set of keys. I shook my head as I didn’t want to go inside. The man smiled as did his companion who had materialized from behind a door. They were both very friendly, smiling and muttering pleasant sounding words as I waved them goodbye.

I walked 300 metres to a local café “Kadir Usta” which specialized in kebaps and lahmacon the local thin baked pizza which is eaten rolled-up by the locals. The place was filling up quickly with locals, always a good sign from my point of view. I walked in and held up 1 finger to the waiter to indicate I was on my own. He indicated all the available tables which were set for four people. I sat down and asked for a menu.

I decided to have a Beyran soup, a local meat soup with rice, chili peppers, and garlic. For main course I wanted an Ali Nazir kebap made with meat, yoghourt, and aubergines. I was then brought a large freshly baked flatbread, a mixed salad, a parsley salad with lemon – to counteract the garlic – and a small bottle of water. All these were provided free of charge.