Salary too high!

[Reyntj]

They have raised the minimum wage too high .
https://haberkibris.com/ekmekci-gereksi ... -25_m.html

Nobody is coming . The Greeks . Holiday makers .

They are discussing paying foreign nationals 30 % lower ..
https://haberkibris.com/gunduzler-yaban ... 06-25.html

I spoke yesterday to a contact I have in a big resort in iskele trying to get a student a job . He said normally they would help but they don't have customers . Everything is too expensive ...

It's all self inflicted . They have destroyed the construction industry with the huge tax increases . Coupled with the new property rules and arrests in southern Cyprus . There will inevitably be a sharp decline .

Trnc doesn't have the pull of Italy France it's difficult to get here and now not cheap. At best average price . Many of the customers it used to attract will venture elsewhere .

The minimum wage is now on on par with greek cyprus . Which is in the EU a recognised country with direct flights a much better economy . Doesn't add up. They have enacted a popular political policy without considering the economic consequences.

Restaurants etc are going to be in great difficulty imo. Things are about to get bad. They may be forced to relax some laws like property tax when everything collapses/implodes.

[TAC]

Total agree prices will be going up again soon with the Electricity costs going up another 13%
More and more people will stay at home eating and drinking and shopping in the south

[Reyntj]

Kibtek came out in the local press and said there is no rise in tariff coming and that it's a lie

I suppose wait and see
https://haberkibris.com/kib-tekten-elek ... -24_m.html

[benjaminbutton]

Cost of a fillet steak cooked exactly as requestedwith all that goes with it in a very good Gastro Pub in UK 21gbp, excellent service.
Ditto, cooked sort of OK, with the usual chips, rice, carrots and cauliflower in restaurant in Alsancak . 23gbp, mediocre service.

[Mollie the cat]

You are right, went to a local restaurant the other day for a drink. Looked at the menu, 800 TL for lamb chops!! Just unreal, we were the only people in there. We do eat in more and shop in the South once a week, lidl is to die for for bargains especially their meat.

Last week we bought two giant turkey legs on offer 3.30 euros each. Papaantonios have a loyalty card, we have cashed in at least 50 euros since we started shopping there.

[alphamike]

I think they have really shot themselves in the foot with constant rises in the minimum wage, which has a knock on effect on everything, all taxes, shop and restaurant pricing, everything goes up. Thus leading to another demand for rise in min wage, and the vicious circle continues.
Plus the new property law and high taxes, it will put many off buying. Don't get me wrong, am all in favour of having kocan sorted out quickly, that has been long overdue. The high taxation though is a bit hard to swallow for some of us who have been waiting on kocan for years. Kocan is there, but builder blackmailing quite a few of us with extremely high cost.

Flights are expensive and long (if you head to Ercan), even if you come via Larnaca you have to add in a taxi in many cases. It's no longer an attractive place to come to benefit from cheaper prices when you get here. Holidaymakers will vote with their feet and go elsewhere.
I've told my family not to come to visit, I'll go to them and/or we can holiday somewhere else if we so desire. Did that last year, and went to Poland which was fabulous, and I got a holiday too for a change.

I said on another thread not too long ago that prices were on a par with the UK now, which is way too high for here. Sounds like prices are exceeding UK for going out for a meal these days. More and more of us who live here, will just stop eating out unless you have very deep pockets.

[benjaminbutton]

Alphamike, I sort of agree with you, but prices are not too high for some locals to wine and dine. If you ever go past the Ezics Premier on By Pass, and the Ezics in Lapta, and loads more of the high end restaurants, they are packed to capacity especially Friday and Saturday Some are Russians, Israelis and Iranians, but 85% are wealthy locals, so some of them are cashing in by the boatload. I have also been into a small supermarket in Alsancak, where the vegetables, are of poor quality in any case, but vegetables, potatoes and fruit which are not fit for human consumption and priced accordingly. TRNC really has become a country of haves and have nots. I know I will never become a HAVE but heaven forbid that I become a HAVE NOT.

[Reyntj]

I agree with you completely there is a fallacy that the Turkish Cypriots are poor. It's not true . Turkish settlers some maybe . Some of them act poor and are sat on a load of wealth .

Yes ezic in magusa full of kktc. We go there a lot I noticed 2 price hikes in the last few months across the menu eg.the fish and chips has now gone to 580 tl. It was 420 I think a few months back ..during this time tl has been flat against £ etc..
A c 40 % rise directly caused by the rise in the wages ..it's now c £14 . Same as UK really .

With no intention to insult anyone many people who where attracted here where people with benidorm budgets but seeking more sophistication or not that experience . It's no longer available.

[alphamike]

BB and Reyntj, I do agree with you in that Turkish Cypriots are not poor, although as said, they may well pretend to be.
I rarely, actually do my best, to avoid going into Girne so not passing these eateries at the weekend, but can totally see them being packed out with those you mention.
I know exactly what you mean about the poor state of fruit and veg in some markets here. I was taken aback at the state of veg in a market just the other day, and it wasn't even reduced for a quick sale. I only buy from the veg warehouse in Tatlisu nowadays as the quality is top notch, and it's near me. Suppose it's a bit of a journey for many on here though.
As for the haves and have nots, how very true, it really has become such a country.

[CPFC]

Re message #4 - not sure where you live in the UK to get your fillet steak for £21 but in my area a fillet steak would be £30 to £35 price range ?

[pedmoreapollo]

We usually come to North Cyprus every couple of years but looking at the prices of a mid range hotel eg Rose Gardens they are the equivalent of half board in a similar hotel in Majorca I know Cyprus is a longer flight. but taking into account the high cost of meals now in TRNC we have decided sadly to go elsewhere.
I think we will not be the only ones

[benjaminbutton]

A one off birthday treat, NEVER TO BE REPEATED. This weekend I am am taking six friends out for lunch, a set menu at 1,000tl per person for the Lamb in a Well experience at Deniz Kizi Hotel. I'm assured that although its pricey, its very good meze, the lamb excellent with jacket potato and salad and then plates of fresh fruit. If you hear a loud bang and dark smoke over the hotel during Sunday afternoon, you will know that I am not a Happy Bunny and have exploded accordingly.

[tutor4u]

If you hear a loud bang and dark smoke over the hotel during Sunday afternoon, you will know that I am not a Happy Bunny and have exploded accordingly.
Top

Love It !!

[MnM]

Re message #4 - not sure where you live in the UK to get your fillet steak for £21 but in my area a fillet steak would be £30 to £35 price range ?

Rowlands Bistro, Gillingham, Kent, £23.50 for 8oz Fillet Steak. https://www.rowlandsbistro.co.uk/a-la-carte-menu

Hollywood Bowl, also in Gillingham, £23.95 for 10oz Sirloin. https://www.thehollywoodbowl.co.uk/inde ... age490.htm

Obviously neither of the above will be of any use to TRNC residents.

[mrsgee]

A one off birthday treat, NEVER TO BE REPEATED. This weekend I am am taking six friends out for lunch, a set menu at 1,000tl per person for the Lamb in a Well experience at Deniz Kizi Hotel. I'm assured that although its pricey, its very good meze, the lamb excellent with jacket potato and salad and then plates of fresh fruit. If you hear a loud bang and dark smoke over the hotel during Sunday afternoon, you will know that I am not a Happy Bunny and have exploded accordingly.

Hope we don't hear a loud bang. Have been several times, always excellent and good value imo, but make sure you are under umbrellas as it gets very hot.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Flights were always a bit more coming to TRNC even via Larnaca by the time you included airport transfers. But once here you got good value for money. If you lose the value for money then the cost of the flights becomes a big factor.
As I’ve written before, it’s all very well trying to go more up market but as my old Nan used to say you can only poo with the bum you’ve got. If you are McDonalds you aren’t going to be able to charge Gordon Ramsey prices. You could be sensible & try and aim to become a Harvester or a Nandos but I’m sure they know what they are doing

[Kanonier]

Re message #4 - not sure where you live in the UK to get your fillet steak for £21 but in my area a fillet steak would be £30 to £35 price range ?

Rowlands Bistro, Gillingham, Kent, £23.50 for 8oz Fillet Steak. https://www.rowlandsbistro.co.uk/a-la-carte-menu

Hollywood Bowl, also in Gillingham, £23.95 for 10oz Sirloin. https://www.thehollywoodbowl.co.uk/inde ... age490.htm

Obviously neither of the above will be of any use to TRNC residents.

Paket Servis?

[forestpixie]

Re message #4 - not sure where you live in the UK to get your fillet steak for £21 but in my area a fillet steak would be £30 to £35 price range ?

Rowlands Bistro, Gillingham, Kent, £23.50 for 8oz Fillet Steak. https://www.rowlandsbistro.co.uk/a-la-carte-menu

Hollywood Bowl, also in Gillingham, £23.95 for 10oz Sirloin. https://www.thehollywoodbowl.co.uk/inde ... age490.htm

Obviously neither of the above will be of any use to TRNC residents.

A Medway person eh, I'm from Maidstone. Bowling alley selling steak! What happened to the burgers

[alphamike]

Lol BB, I do hope there are no loud bangs heard. Am sure you will have a lovely time. A special birthday treat is worthwhile paying for.

A friend and I go out for breakfast to somewhere in Tatlisu area. Traditional breakfast (not British) is really good, but we are not going any more, it's now 1200TL and that's far too much in our opinion. Maybe as a special treat, but not for our usual drop in when we feel like it. They have out priced our pockets. We'll spend the money on our dogs and strays rather than ourselves.

[Mollie the cat]

its just crazy whats going on here it really is, 1200 TL for breakfast, I wouldn't pay that for an evening meal!!

[forestpixie]

We go to İlgaz 400tl each, huge breakfast.

[MnM]

Re message #4 - not sure where you live in the UK to get your fillet steak for £21 but in my area a fillet steak would be £30 to £35 price range ?

Rowlands Bistro, Gillingham, Kent, £23.50 for 8oz Fillet Steak. https://www.rowlandsbistro.co.uk/a-la-carte-menu

Hollywood Bowl, also in Gillingham, £23.95 for 10oz Sirloin. https://www.thehollywoodbowl.co.uk/inde ... age490.htm

Obviously neither of the above will be of any use to TRNC residents.

A Medway person eh, I'm from Maidstone. Bowling alley selling steak! What happened to the burgers

No not a bowling alley, Hollywood Bowl is an independent restaurant in Gillingham High Street, named after the Hollywood Bowl I guess.

[forestpixie]

Ahaha I see, shows the last time that I was in the UK

[waddo]

Of course if you want a really good meal at a decent cost you could always cook it yourself, you could even invite your mates around to share with you if you wanted to! Be careful though, that could become a trend with people actually enjoying themselves - lol.

[CPFC]

Re message #4 - not sure where you live in the UK to get your fillet steak for £21 but in my area a fillet steak would be £30 to £35 price range ?

Rowlands Bistro, Gillingham, Kent, £23.50 for 8oz Fillet Steak. https://www.rowlandsbistro.co.uk/a-la-carte-menu

Hollywood Bowl, also in Gillingham, £23.95 for 10oz Sirloin. https://www.thehollywoodbowl.co.uk/inde ... age490.htm

Obviously neither of the above will be of any use to TRNC residents.

The Hollywood Bowl one is for a sirloin

[alphamike]

Of course if you want a really good meal at a decent cost you could always cook it yourself, you could even invite your mates around to share with you if you wanted to! Be careful though, that could become a trend with people actually enjoying themselves - lol.

That will have to wait until it cools down a bit. Way too hot to cook for me, let alone entertaining cooking just now. I cook more stuff for the dog than I do for myself just now.

[tutor4u]

Rowlands Bistro, Gillingham, Kent, £23.50 for 8oz Fillet Steak. https://www.rowlandsbistro.co.uk/a-la-carte-menu

Hollywood Bowl, also in Gillingham, £23.95 for 10oz Sirloin. https://www.thehollywoodbowl.co.uk/inde ... age490.htm

Bit overpriced in my opinion e.g. Weatherspoons excellent value for money and includes a drink if you wish. Similar standard to most TRNC resturants.

https://wetherspoonsmenu.co.uk/wethersp ... rill-menu/

[MnM]

Rowlands Bistro, Gillingham, Kent, £23.50 for 8oz Fillet Steak. https://www.rowlandsbistro.co.uk/a-la-carte-menu

Hollywood Bowl, also in Gillingham, £23.95 for 10oz Sirloin. https://www.thehollywoodbowl.co.uk/inde ... age490.htm

Bit overpriced in my opinion e.g. Weatherspoons excellent value for money and includes a drink if you wish. Similar standard to most TRNC resturants.

https://wetherspoonsmenu.co.uk/wethersp ... rill-menu/

w.jpg

Oh yes it is expensive but ok for an occasional meal out. Spoons as you say is excellent value for money but then they have the buying clout. Brewers Fair in places have rebranded to Cookhouse + Pub, but a leopard can't change it's spots and while the prices have gone up the quality of food and service is less than mediocre at best with a success rate of perhaps 2 in 10 visits being problem free. Once I had a burger in a pie and it was served frozen in the middle. I can honestly say I don't think I've ever had any problems with restaurants in TRNC though. Actually yes there was one time at a place in the harbour, I was served a Kleftico that had obviously been microwaved and was presented to look bigger than it actually was by hiding it under half a baked potato covered in sauce with about 8 chips in a little basket as well as rice, oh and cauliflower and broccoli.

[Brazen]

Rowlands Bistro, Gillingham, Kent, £23.50 for 8oz Fillet Steak. https://www.rowlandsbistro.co.uk/a-la-carte-menu

Hollywood Bowl, also in Gillingham, £23.95 for 10oz Sirloin. https://www.thehollywoodbowl.co.uk/inde ... age490.htm

Bit overpriced in my opinion e.g. Weatherspoons excellent value for money and includes a drink if you wish. Similar standard to most TRNC resturants.

https://wetherspoonsmenu.co.uk/wethersp ... rill-menu/

w.jpg

Went to a seafront restaurant near lapta this week and they are charging 1250 - 1500tl for steak (£30 - 35) !

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Of course if you want a really good meal at a decent cost you could always cook it yourself, you could even invite your mates around to share with you if you wanted to! Be careful though, that could become a trend with people actually enjoying themselves - lol.

But what home cook could have the expertise that local chefs in restaurants have?
Taking the supermarket mezes out of the containers and putting them on a serving plate? Grilling those lamb chops? Making chips? Chopping up a salad?
We’re not all Heston Blumementhal!

[mrsgee]

Of course if you want a really good meal at a decent cost you could always cook it yourself, you could even invite your mates around to share with you if you wanted to! Be careful though, that could become a trend with people actually enjoying themselves - lol.

But what home cook could have the expertise that local chefs in restaurants have?
Taking the supermarket mezes out of the containers and putting them on a serving plate? Grilling those lamb chops? Making chips? Chopping up a salad?
We’re not all Heston Blumementhal!

I would suggest that lots of people have the expertise to cook wonderful food if they can just be bothered to take the time and trouble. Or are you making a tongue in cheek statement there? I doubt many restaurants make their own mezes, but buy from supermarkets, especially bog standard ones. I cook most meals from scratch, fresh produce, make my own pasta fresh, salads with some interest, but, on occasion we like to leave the kitchen and clearing up behind and leave it to the experts..... but, very choosy about where we go, and happy to pay for top class food.

[wanderer]

In near 20 years of North Cyprus my wife has not fathomed out how this oven thing works .
I've shown her You Tubes etc seems to be a mental block
Brilliant cook in the UK
On the steak front since the late Erol's closed realy good steaks have been hard to find served in the right atmosphere

[alphamike]

I actually normally love cooking, and like Mrs Gee, do everything from scratch. In this heat though, it's a right chore, but luckily I neither have the appetite nor inclination for hot food at the moment. Am glad someone mentioned supermarket mezes, I usually make them, but am very tempted just to buy some cold stuff.

[tutor4u]

I would suggest that lots of people have the expertise to cook wonderful food if they can just be bothered to take the time and trouble

I coudl not agree more, in my opinion at best most so called resturants serve up a similar menu, mainly consisting of "Something" + chips .

No where that i know serves a Jacket potatoe, Hazelbank potatoe, boiled potatoes in skins + butter, or any other combination.

As for the main part of the meal, the meat, so simple to cook a good fillet or sirloin oiive oil, salt, pepper and knob of butter or chicken with somthing other than paprika.

As a sugestion try this: How to Make Potatoes and Onions

Potatoes – The potatoes need to be cut into approximately 1 inch pieces.. I chose to leave the skin on, but you can peel the potatoes if you desire.

Yellow onion – Cut into approximately ¾ to 1 inch pieces.

Olive oil

Seasonings – I use a blend of salt, black pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Feel free to use your favorites and adjust the amounts to your personal preference.

Place potatoes in a medium bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat evenly, then toss with seasoning mixture.
Arrange potatoes evenly in your air fryer basket or pan on the hob and fry at 390 degrees F for 7 minutes.
While the potatoes are cooking, toss the onions in the remaining oil and seasoning mixture (using the same bowl). After 7 minutes, add the onions. Shake the basket or use a set of tongs to toss the potatoes and onions.
Cook for an additional 7 to 9 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown and onions are tender.

[alphamike]

Laughing at the development of this thread from discussion on minimum wage/30% lower for foreigners to recipes. Love it.

[tutor4u]

ahh North Crpus , something for everyone

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Or are you making a tongue in cheek statement there?

Busted!
I thought the “Taking the supermarket mezes out of the containers and putting them on a serving plate” line might give me away.

[Reyntj]

I started the thread but perhaps sharing recipes is more positive and useful than moaning about things we can't change ...

[Soner]

I started the thread but perhaps sharing recipes is more positive and useful than moaning about things we can't change ...

Exactly. TRNC is going through another phase, good for some not so good for others. Had been out here in 94-95 and I struggled and left because everything became too expensive and could no longer afford to live out here. Everything should hopefully pan out with time.

Restaurants have no choice but to increase their prices to cover their overheads. Admittedly, I have dramatically reduced eating out, but do try to eat out occasionally. If we don't we may lose some of our favourite places to go to.

As for TC's being "rich", well good luck to those that have cashed in, they have been struggling for the past 50 years or so. It seems like it is their turn to have some enjoyment in life.

Mistakes have been made by government, which is nothing new, but like I said, eventually all will get sorted with time. Sit tight, be patient, live within your means and things will improve.

There's not a cloud in the sky this morning.

[Keithcaley]

... Sit tight, be patient, live within your means and thing will improve.