00:03If you're hungry in Istanbul, there's one place you can't skip.
00:08You want local food, drinks, music and a unique social experience?
00:13And how about a glass of lion's milk?
00:18Let's find out what these traditional Turkish taverns are all about.
00:25Hi and welcome. I'm Asli Alla Goetz. You are at Gunasin Sofrasi Mehane.
00:33I'll tell you more about this place. Come join me at the table.
00:40Asli's is located in the Karakoy district on the Asian side of Istanbul,
00:44a cultural and culinary hotspot popular with locals and tourists alike.
00:48First, you pick your mezes, small artful dishes that are freshly prepared every day.
00:55They are usually on display, making it easier for you to choose.
00:59As you can see, we have both fish mezes and vegetable mezes with olive oil.
01:07There are also yogurt-based mezes with purslane or haidari and chachik.
01:18Mezes are meant to be shared. This is how the spirit of friendship and sharing at the Mehane is created.
01:27But now, on to the drinks. Alcoholic beverages are a central component of the Mehane experience, setting it aside from
01:34many other Turkish restaurants.
01:36You can have wine or beer, but the signature drink here is raki, the famous anise-flavored spirit.
01:45Many Turkish people refer to it as lion's milk because of its milky white color when you add water, not
01:52to mention the strong flavor.
01:57We pour the raki like this. Usually we add water, unless you have a habit of drinking it straight.
02:07We add our water on top, not too much, this much, first the raki, then the water.
02:14If you want, you can add some ice. There are many different brands and varieties of raki, with 40-50
02:21% alcohol, so you should know how much you can handle.
02:26Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, has hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of mehanis. Nobody knows for certain.
02:33Their history stretches back centuries, and they've gradually changed and developed.
02:39Mehane culture goes back a long way, but these weren't mehanis in the modern sense.
02:44The term mehane comes from the word meh or wine. The first mehanis were wine houses.
02:50Under Muslim Ottoman rule, starting in the 15th century, mehanis remained popular social hubs, despite some restrictions.
03:00In the past, people from all walks of life went to the mehane. But of course, this did not mean
03:05everyone.
03:05Because women definitely did not go, especially during the Ottoman period.
03:11Nowadays, it's normal to see women and young people in a mehane.
03:16Until today, mehanis remain popular spaces for heartfelt discussions and connecting with others.
03:22Some mehanis even have live music. Old, nostalgic Turkish songs are often performed, as is music with arabesque influence, about
03:31love, longing and life struggles.
03:33Singing and dancing is always welcome.
03:45But no matter how much you're enjoying yourselves, eventually, every mehane night comes to an end.
03:52Our mehane closes at 1 am. We think that's enough time to enjoy your mehane conversation.
04:02We recommend bars to those who want to prolong the evening.
04:07If you've never been to a Turkish mehane, it's definitely worth a visit.
04:11I'm glad to be here.
04:21See you again next week.
04:23I'm glad you did.
04:23I never did, I had a seat.
04:23I'm glad you were here.
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