Lunch @ Balıkçı Barınağı

The Balıkçı Barınağı is essentially an area with a breakwater that provides protected waters for fishing vessels. The one we went to today is in Güzelbahçe, a suburb of Izmir. Along the waterfront here there is a fish market where one can purchase fresh catch of all sorts that can then be taken to one of the restaurants to be cooked. The restaurants make money from the drinks and mezes that patrons purchase to accompany their fish.

Mui and Işıl wanted to have lunch at their mom’s favorite restaurant at the Balıkçı Barınağı. So, we took the opportunity to invite Hakan, one of Mui’s long-time friends, and his wife, Ferda, to join us there. Kill two birds with one stone … so to speak.

We bought some calamari and fresh mussels from the fish market and ordered a couple of mezes from the restaurant for a festive meal with dear friends.Read more