It was during early morning walks with the dog in Besiktas that I realised that Istanbul has so much to offer when it comes to foraging. It is known that there is a lot to discover in areas such as Belgrade Forest, where there are various mushrooms (morels), herbs and wild edible greens, such as mallow leaves (comparable to spinach in terms of preparation). But I could not expect it in a two km radius of Taksim Square!
Walnuts, white and black mulberries, chestnuts, grapes, figs, carob (the dog loves this), bay leaves, mint and parsley, grow just in the small green spaces and parks and along the streets surrounding the café. The nearby streets are littered with splashed mulberries in July; in Autumn the neighbours clear the cars in our street in order to pick the walnuts which they shake out of the trees, and all throughout the Summer I noticed little old ladies cutting off the wine-leaves which are growing at the entrance of the café to make their delicious dolmas.
Personally, I am slightly hesitant to use any of the products, because of the high levels of pollution in central Istanbul, but it certainly brings these fine moments of happiness.
taco-tortilla.com 