A Taste of Home
A visit to Charleston, a Turkish street food classic, and the perfect side to make every sandwich a festive meal.
Spring break came so quickly this year! Our family spent the week in Charleston, S.C., one of our favorite cities to visit in the U.S. Though it was still cold, it felt like a true vacation, complete with sandy beaches and beautiful architecture. Charleston has the most gorgeous neighborhoods, each street more charming than the last. There’s something European about it, with a sense of history and scenery that brings me so much joy—not to mention the delicious food!
We had the chance to visit a few great places, though we quickly learned that if you’re there during peak season, you definitely need a reservation! Be sure to plan your meals around wait times and plan your time in advance, though it’s well worth the visit. I’ve listed a few of the standouts from our trip below, but we can’t wait to go back and try even more from our list.
Wild Olive — fresh pasta and ravioli set apart this Italian restaurant, where I’m thrilled to say everything we ate was absolutely delicious
Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop — an adorable walk-in bakery with delicious pastries and flavorful breakfast options
Sorelle Mercato — mouthwatering breads, sandwiches, and pastries all made with the freshest ingredients
This almost summer-y excursion has me craving our long summer vacations in Türkiye. A highlight of our trip home each year is the flavors that are never quite the same anywhere else. Turkish döner is the epitome of that for me, the taste instantly bringing me back to days spent with friends perusing busy streets. I’ve included two different variations below, a beef and chicken option. You can serve it with the traditional lavash or with the homemade flour tortilla recipe from my cookbook, as I’ve done below. You can also save the meat in the freezer and use it as needed, leaving you ready for a delicious meal whenever you want! You’ll also find various pickle and sauce recipes included, so you can cater the taste to your preference.
I love to serve döner with crispy french fries, or even better, these incredible cheesy potato balls. With just a few extra steps, you can turn your potatoes into something truly unforgettable—a cheesy, crunchy, flavorful bite that I know from experience will be requested again and again by anyone lucky enough to try them!
That’s all for now—I hope you’re enjoying the warming days! I can’t wait for the season’s produce to come in and to share a slew of new seasonal recipes for you all, inspired by our little garden and farmers market.
Ok, yes I downloaded both from here. Thanks for this, Cheers Lesley
Unfortunately I cannot download the chicken döner recipe either - it looks delicious, I love a good Döner (posting from Germany where we looove a good Döner)