Gevrek @ Zeynel Ergin Fırını

Gevrek being sesame encrusted bread rings …

Today started out with breakfast @ Zeynel Ergin, which bills itself as İzmir’s first gevrek fırını [bakery]. Established in the 1800s by a Greek family, the 140-year-old bakery offers more than just gevrek these days. The place is always crowded … there is always a line. We must have timed it just right this morning as the queue waiting for just-out-of-the oven goodies was short … though all the tables on the sidewalk and side street were occupied.

Murat got in line to pick up gevrek and kumru; Deniz went to get some börek; Mui went to the counter to pick up butter, cheese, honey, jam, a tomato and cucumber salad, and cups of Turkish tea; Aylin and I went to find a table. Yes, this is a self-serve eatery and we’ve got the whole process down pat.

We managed to find a table on the upper level of the annex and enjoyed our breakfast.Read more