Bold Fork Travels: Istanbul & the Aegean
Join Bold Fork Books and Clare Louise Frost for a 7 day, 8 night culinary journey through Istanbul and the Aegean coast.
Embark on an unforgettable gastronomic adventure through two of Turkey’s most captivating regions—vibrant Istanbul and the sun-drenched Aegean coast. Led by Bold Fork Books co-founder Clementine Thomas and designer & filmmaker Clare Louise Frost, you’ll explore the history, culture, and flavors that make up Turkey’s rich culinary landscape.
This immersive journey blends hands-on cooking, market explorations, and a range of dining experiences exploring the diverse flavors of Istanbul, Anatolia, and the Aegean with ample time to enjoy some of Turkey’s most iconic landmarks and scenery - from the fresh breezes of the Aegean coast to the famed Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.
Two Days on the Aegean Coast
Experience the serene beauty and flavors of the Aegean, with a two-day workshop and dining adventure at Asma Yaprağı, a chef’s garden and restaurant on the picturesque Alaçati Peninsula. Under the guidance of Chef Ayşe Nur, you’ll dive into the world of Aegean home cooking.
Workshops: Learn the secrets behind traditional olive oil dishes, prepare flatbreads, and enjoy fresh, local cheeses and wines, all while savoring the region’s light, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.
Five Days in Istanbul
Delve deep into the culinary heart of Turkey’s vibrant Istanbul, where the influences of Anatolia and the Ottoman Empire come alive. Wander through bustling market areas like the Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar, learning how locals shop and prepare meals at home. Experience Istanbul's rich diversity as we explore the flavors brought by the Anatolian diaspora, including everything from southeastern kebabs to the famous Istanbul meyhane fare.
- Cooking Class: Join a hands-on class that takes you through the rich culinary techniques of Ottoman cuisine
- Dining Experiences: Enjoy a meal at the renowned Çiya Sofrası, home to Chef Musa Dağdeviren, a champion of Anatolian food traditions.
- City Tours: Explore the European and Asian sides of this majestic city, from the bustling streets of Kadıköy to the historic splendor of the Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, and the Byzantine Cisterns. And, of course, you’ll have the option to unwind with a traditional scrub at a historic Ottoman hamam.
Whether you're cooking, dining, or exploring, this tour is designed to provide a perfect balance of discovery and relaxation. With our deep knowledge of Turkey and passion for culinary adventure, we offer endless suggestions for food and culture alike, ensuring you experience the very best of this diverse and dynamic region.
The Details
Dates:
April 4th - April 12th 2025
Price:
Single Occupancy: $4,800 per person
Double Occupancy: $4,200 per person
What’s included:
- 3 nights at the Villa Taraça in Alaçati
- 5 nights at The Bank Hotel in Istanbul
- All group meals indicated in the itinerary
- All guided touring, activities, and admissions indicated in the itinerary.
- Domestic airfare within Turkey
- Airport transfers upon arrival/departure to and from Istanbul.
- Group airport transfers to and from domestic flights.
Questions? Email us at travel@boldforkbooks.com
Your Guides
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Clare Louise Frost
Clare Louise Frost is a textile designer and an antique rug specialist, an actor and a filmmaker who lived in Istanbul, Turkey for nine years, eating her way across this most delicious country.
Clare first arrived in Istanbul in 2006 as an assistant to Josephine Powell, an American expat and noted Anatolian textile and kilim expert. Her own line of textiles and pillows are handmade, using the time-honored techniques Clare learned from her time with antique textiles and rugs.
Clare acts in television and movies in the States and in Turkey, and speaks Turkish even when you don’t give her lines. She also has an independent film company based in New York, where she dedicates her time to making great story-based narrative film.
Clare loves food and is an avid home cook. Clare worked seasonally over years on a vineyard in Tuscany, and has a deep appreciation for the fruits of the earth, and the people who coax and perfect them. Cooks much included. Her favorite part of cooking is learning the home cooking techniques that let her cook at home, using whatever seasonal ingredients are at hand. She loves traveling, eating, and meeting wonderful people as she travels and eats.
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Clementine Thomas
Clementine Thomas is the co-owner of Bold Fork Books, Washington DC's only culinary bookshop. A DC native, Clementine has worked in the District's restaurant industry for many years and she is a partner at Chez Billy Sud. The culinary books she has collected over the years have changed the way she cooks, eats, and thinks about the world around her.
Now she is committed to sharing this passion by growing a deeply connected and dedicated shop community of home cooks, restaurant professionals, and curious eaters through books and a diverse slate of events.
Detailed Itinerary
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Friday, April 4th - Aegean or bust
We’ll meet at Istanbul Airport and board our 3hr flight to the southern city of Izmir. A car will take us to Villa Taraça on the Alaçati peninsula, a restored Aegean villa with sweeping views of the countryside. This will be our homebase for our stay on the Aegean. We’ll eat dinner together at the villa and unwind before the day of cooking and eating ahead.
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Saturday, April 5th - Workshop Day One: Asma Yapragi
After breakfast we’ll walk to Asma Yaprağı, Chef Ayşe Nur’s restaurant and cooking school. We’ll meet Chef Nur and tour her garden where the vegetables and herbs featured on Asma Yaprağı’s menu are grown. We’ll enjoy a simple lunch together prepared by Chef Nur and spend the afternoon learning how to make the olive-oil based dishes and mezes of Alacati. We’ll end our day with a tasting of Aegean wine and cheese and return to the hotel. Dinner will be on your own.
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Sunday, April 6th - Workshop Day Two: Asma Yapragi
We’ll begin our second day at Asma Yaprağı with coffee and homemade pastries. Then we’ll roll up our sleeves and join Chef Nur in her kitchen to cook lunch together. We’ll learn how to stuff grape leaves, fry delicate squash blossoms, and learn the techniques behind Chef Nur’s family recipe for sinkonta, a staple of Aegean home cooking. After enjoying the (delicious!) fruits of our labor, we’ll get back in the kitchen to explore the sweeter side of Aegean cooking with a dessert workshop. We’ll close out our final day at Asma Yaprağı with a traditional Turkish teatime. Dinner will be on your own.
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Monday, April 7th - Izmir to Istanbul
After our morning flight back to Istanbul, you’ll settle into your room at The Bank Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel located in the historic Karaköy neighborhood. We’ll reconvene in the afternoon for a walk through the bohemian Beyoglu district. We’ll see the Galata Tower and explore the shops and cafes along famed Istiklal. We’ll end at Hayri Usta for dinner - a beloved neighborhood kebab joint.
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Tuesday, April 8th - Kadıköy
Our first full day in Istanbul. We’ll meet at the hotel after breakfast and walk across the bridge to Eminönü and the ferry terminal. We’ll take the ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side of the city and spend the morning and early afternoon tasting our way through the neighborhood’s markets. On the menu: Turkish coffee, lahmacun, stuffed mussels, cheese, olives and more! We’ll explore the fish market, local herb & medicinal shops, and produce stands before walking to Ali Usta for Turkish ice cream with a view of the Marmara Sea. We’ll end the afternoon with a late lunch at Çiya Sofrasi, Musa Dagdeviren’s pioneering restaurant dedicated to preserving the traditional regional cuisines of Anatolia. Afterwards, we’ll take the ferry back to Karaköy and finish our day back at the hotel. Dinner (if you’re still peckish!) will be on your own.
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Wednesday, April 9th - The Old City
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll walk to the Spice Bazaar, the sensory heart of Istanbul’s culinary culture. We’ll wander through stalls offering everything from saffron and sumac to dried fruits and herbal teas. Then we’ll walk through the Mahmut Pasa shopping area to the famous Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. We’ll stop for lunch at Aslan, a traditional canteen specializing in Turkish home cooking meant to fuel the bazaar’s tradesmen during their workdays. After lunch we’ll explore the bazaar. With over 4,000 shops, we’ll see everything from textiles and ceramics to jewelry and antiques. The late afternoon and evening are yours. You can linger at the bazaar, head back to the hotel, or explore other sights (we have plenty of suggestions!). Dinner is on your own and we’re happy to make recommendations and help with reservations.
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Thursday, April 10th - A Cooking Workshop & Iconic Landmarks
We’ll meet at the hotel after breakfast and take the tram to Cooking Alaturka, a cooking school located in the historic Sultanahmet neighborhood. We’ll spend the morning cooking a five course lunch of classic Anatolian dishes and learn about the techniques and ingredients that define the cuisine. We’ll eat together after class and toast our hard work. The afternoon is free for exploring. The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are both within a short walk of Cooking Alaturka or take the tram to Topkapi Palace, the stunning Ottoman imperial palace. We’ll reconvene for dinner together at Asmali Cavit, a traditional Istanbul “meyhane” (taverna) in Beyoglu.
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Friday, April 11th - Vintage Textiles, Carpets & A Farewell Dinner
The morning is free for continuing your exploration of the city’s sights. Enjoy a scrub at a hamam or a Bosphorous boat tour. See the Basilica Cistern or wander the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. In the afternoon we’ll meet near the Grand Bazaar at Karavan Art, a vintage carpet wholesaler owned by Huseyin Kaplan. Huseyin is known as the “dealer’s dealer” and we’ll have the chance to engage first-hand with his world class collection of Turkish textiles. We’ll close out our visit at Karavan with a tasting of Kapadokya wines on their balcony overlooking the Marmara sea. The remainder of the afternoon is free to take care of any last-minute wishlist items - from shopping to sightseeing. We’ll meet for our farewell dinner at Journey, a chic, modern restaurant serving contemporary takes on the Turkish classics we’ve tasted throughout our trip.
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Saturday, April 12th - Fin
The tour is officially over. After breakfast, you’ll check out of the hotel. We’re happy to arrange transport to the airport as well as accommodations for an extended stay.
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Join us on this unforgettable trip!
Don't hesitate to reach out at travel@boldforkbooks.com with any questions
The Fine Print
EXCLUSIONS
- International airfare to/from Istanbul
- Any airport taxes, tourist visa fees, etc.
- Travel insurance/travel medical insurance (highly recommended)
- Any vaccines/medical testing required for travel.
- Additional meals not indicated in the group’s itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages not included in the itinerary. Any alcoholic beverages during group meals will be billed individually.
- Items and services of personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, room service, etc.
** TIPS and gratuity are not included. We highly recommend tipping room service, housekeeping, taxi drivers, bellhops, guides, waiters, et al, as you would in the United States.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
1) Deposit payment equal to half the total price of the Tour is required to reserve your spot and is due no later than December 15th, 2024.
The deposit payment is non-refundable.
Zelle/wire payments are preferred.
Please send deposit to clementine@boldforkbooks.com
Double occupancy 50% deposit: $2,400 per person
Single occupancy 50% deposit: $2,100 per person
2) Remaining payment balance is due February 1st, 2025 and is non-refundable.
Zelle/wire payments are preferred:
Please send balance payment to clementine@boldforkbooks.com
Single occupancy 50% deposit: $2,400 per person
Double occupancy 50% deposit: $2,100 per person
CANCELLATION POLICY
BOLD FORK BOOKS must strictly adhere to its cancellation and refund policy to offset costs incurred prior to the commencement of the Tour, which may include but are not limited to: advance payments to land operators; hotel and meal arrangement; communication expenses; development and the loss of time that might have permitted resale of the reserved space.
NOTE: BOLD FORK BOOKS shall not be liable for any airline cancellation penalties or fees incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable or non-changeable ticket.
We reserve the right to vary the specifics of the itinerary. We may switch days, add/change activities, or substitute locations. We send out an updated itinerary within 30 days prior to the start date.
This tour is limited to 12 people