Recommendations for Christmas Lunch

[elizabeth]

Can anyone recommend a restaurant for a decent Christmas Lunch, over the years we've had good, bad and indifferent so just wondered if anyone knows of a nice one. I have to say that the best one we ever had was a couple of years ago at Hoots in Ilgaz but sadly that is now closed.

[fatouche]

I am an accomplished cook and I'm in the process of taking over The Old Wine House in the Maronite village of Korucam (Just past the BlueHouse), and I will be opening on Christmas day. You'll find my cookery column in the Kibkomtimes on line if you want to look me up. I also sell food at Lambousa market.

[brianc]

Last year we went to the Colony hotel and enjoyed Christmas there .

[carolhm]

We will be going to Stevies bar for Christmas . It will be our third time , the meal is wonderful and the staff are great.

[the butlers wife]

I also recommend Stevies Bar, it must be the best christmas lunch on the island.
You will need to hurry though, as I think they are almost booked up.

The butlers wife

[Royalcorpsoftranspor]

The Court Yard in Karakum is always very good.

[Bonnie]

Hello fatouche.
Very interested in your post about your shortly to be opened premises "The Old Wine House" in the village of Korucam. You mentioned it being quite close to the Blue House.
Does this mean you would need to have your passport available to pass through military land?
Looked at your column in Kibkom Times. I've made two unsuccessful attempts in the past 4yrs to make a decent baked rice pudding. Will now have another go using your recipe & method.
Could you please give me a clue though how to suss out which is the pudding rice among the many different rices on offer in the supermarket
Thanks

[Groucho]

Bonnie, it's in a tin with the name Ambrosia on the label!
Only joking... I too would like to know the Turkish name for pudding rice, not that I like rice pudding but just in case I have to cook some for someone who does... The rice called Baldo looks like the right grain size and shape but that may be the Turkish equivalent of Paella or Risotto rice for all I know..... so some guidance from fatouche would be much appreciated

[Deniz1]

Sutlac is the word Groucho, pronounced with ch at the end.

[woodspeckie]

Bonnie. Not on military land when you leave the Blue House you turn right and the road takes you to Korucam.

[carolhm]

never had rice pudd for christmas

[Mozgor]

Bonnie, it's in a tin with the name Ambrosia on the label!
Only joking... I too would like to know the Turkish name for pudding rice, not that I like rice pudding but just in case I have to cook some for someone who does... The rice called Baldo looks like the right grain size and shape but that may be the Turkish equivalent of Paella or Risotto rice for all I know..... so some guidance from fatouche would be much appreciated

Hi

Baldo rice is a brand name rather than type of rice and the one you are talking about is used for pilaf, but can also be used for risotto or rice pudding. As long as it's short grain and starchy it's fine.

Moyra

[Jonnie]

I gave up looking for a good Christmas Lunch and now cook our own. I get a nice loin of pork with the crackling on and have half a dozen friends round. Relaxed, enjoyable and no worries about driving.

[OldDog]

Al Shaheen for quality and price. Have been there for 2 out of the last 3 years-excellent.

[Panchocat]

Fully agree with OldDog's Al Shaheen recommendation.

[fatouche]

Hello Bonnie.

Woodspeckie has already said that Korucam is not on military land; it is populated by Maronites who came to Cyprus in the 7th century BC from the Lebanon. You may find the link below interesting.

The Old Wine house is an immaculately restored building which was a going concern until earlier this year. I very much look forward to opening it (at the moment I'm aiming for 22nd November 2013. Initially I will open Friday-Sunday for lunch and tea bookings only in order to assess the demand. I plan on serving Christmas lunch from Friday 13th December (lucky for me I hope!).

My style of cooking is European/ Mediterranean bistro style food, and those who know me from Lambousa can vouch for the quality of my baking.

With regard to the rice pudding, the roundish short grain variety is the one to look for; Arborio, the Italian risotto rice would be good.There is a local one with "Luks Baldo Pirinc" written on the front which is ideal.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j ... 9372,d.bGE

[sophie]

Club Ilgaz for Christmas, trouble is you have to book from one Christmas to another, they get booked up that quickly, at least that's always been the case in the past.!

[metin]

Le Jardin in Catalkoy, especially if you would like some music with your meal.

They never disappoint.

[Muad_dib]

Jonnie,where do you get your pork with the skin on?