Duden Waterfall, Antalya Turkey   A definite must see in Antalya.  Incredibly beautiful.

A day before Labor Day weekend, we hopped on a plane and landed safely in Istanbul, Turkey.  Traveling with an 11 month old had its moments.  Our take off from New York City, JFK was delayed to Istanbul, Turkey which would not have been an issue if we did not have to catch a second flight out to Samsun, Turkey.   We literary had 25 minutes to get out from the plane, pass the passport control, out of the International Terminal all the way to the Domestic Terminal.  It was like we were running to catch up with time, consistently saying are we going to make it?  are we going to make it?  It was funny but also sad, because the next flight to Samsun would have been at 7pm at night and we honestly did not want to wait 6+ hours for a connecting flight.  Trip Map: Turkey Travel 2010

Fresh Arugula Shepperd Salad – Kayseri Turkey@ Daylan Balikevi

Oven baked buttered baby shrimp with mushrooms, tomatoes and kashkaval cheese.
Pan fried selomina breaded talapia fish.

Oven baked Helva Pudding - words can not describe how good this is. 

We made our flight and we landed safely  in Samsun, Turkey and that’s when our road trips began.  With 8 adults, 2 kids and 2 infants and 2 cars, we covered a lot road, dirt and then some.  Family road trips are always fun, because so much is going on that you don’t know what is actually going on.  Aside the sight seeing, family seeing, resting, playing -the best part of a road trips are those pit stops for food, gas, food, drink and more food. 
Our Trip Map: Turkey Travel 2010

My husband’s aunt own a Pit Stop Family Oriented Restaurant, mostly popular for their Menemen aka  Shakshuka. Agg, I can so have a huge pan now! It is so addicting and delicious,  I can easily finish a large pan by myself.  The restaurant is situated on a main highway in Turkey, making it easily accessible.  Whenever we passed by, we stopped and ate pans full of menemen and a couple of days before our return we stopped for some of this. Known as Pide.

A Turkish bread dough with kashkaval cheese, topped with pastirma, lamb stew and eggs. Even, Yigit Pura a contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef Just Desserts stated “You have NO idea how badly I miss this!!!!!!!!!!!”on my facebook page. I clearly don’t need to say anything else. For more Travel & FOOD Pictures, visit & comment on my Flickr Page.

Tags: Bravo's Top Chef Just Desserts, Daylan Balikevi, Istanbul, Kayseri, Pide, Samsun, Turkey Trip 2010, Yigit Pura