Superyacht guests expect delicious food and flawless service, especially when it comes to a special occasion or a theme night. If you’re planning a Turkish night, drawing up a menu of local dishes and arranging a belly dancer is easy. Still, if you want to exceed the guest’s expectations, you can add many elements to enhance the occasion and make your Turkish evening a night to remember.

SERVE A TRADITIONAL TURKISH MENU

A highlight of any Turkish night is the cuisine. Traditional Turkish food is rich and diverse, with most dishes designed to be shared. The Ottomans inspired many of the most famous traditional dishes, with lamb, beef, fish, rice, and vegetable options to suit most tastes and dietary requirements. Here’s a little culinary inspiration and suggestions on what works well on a Turkish theme night:

Soup: Turkish soup, or çorba as it is known locally, appears on almost every traditional menu, and there’s a wide range of vegetable and meat-based varieties. Some of the most well-loved Turkish soups include red lentil soup (mercimek çorbası), spicy lentil soup (ezogelin çorbası), and cold yoghurt and mint soup (yayla corbasi). See our Traditional Turkish Soups blog for more ideas.

Turkish Appetisers/Meze: Turkish people are known for their hospitality and love nothing more than sitting together and grazing over a spread of food. Turkish meze could be likened to Spanish Tapas, i.e., a dip-and-share array of appetisers served centre table or from a platter. The best meze is always freshly made and showcases the fabulous local seasonal produce our provisions team can supply to the yacht.

There are many meaty and vegetarian meze varieties around, with favourites including spicy pepper and tomato dip (acili ezme), white bean salad (piyaz), yoghurt and mint dip (haydari), fresh beans in olive oil (taze fasulye), stuffed vine leaves (yaprak sarma), and Turkish pastries (börek). Meze looks impressive and appeals to vegans, vegetarians and meat lovers, so a wonderful option that pleases the majority on a Turkish night.

Traditional Turkish Main Courses: Türkiye has over 100 different types of kebabs, so one of the more fancy versions is an excellent option to serve on a theme night. Doner kebab, the chip-shop favourite, is the most well-known, but shish kebabs, Adana, Urfa, or aubergine kebab can be dressed up to look great with Turkish rice or bulgur, a traditional salad and some pide or lavas flatbread on the side.

If you really want to impress the guests, melt-in-your-mouth slow-cooked lamb (tandir), or one of the many traditional clay-pot dishes like desti kebab tastes fantastic and can be served at the table. Other options that stem from the Ottoman kitchens include aubergine stuffed with meat (karnıyarık) or its vegetarian tomato and onion stuffed equivalent, Imam bayildi.

Turkish Desserts: Hardly a celebration goes by in Türkiye without a tray of baklava or Turkish delight passed around. Although these are certainly worth including on a Turkish night, there are many other Turkish desserts the guests may enjoy.

Trileçe (Three Milk Cake) is an old Ottoman favourite that looks great and tastes delicious. It’s a light vanilla sponge soaked in three kinds of milk, then topped with caramel. Tel Kadayıfı is another traditional dessert that looks impressive. It’s made from thin strands of dough, filled with nuts and soaked in sugar syrup. It tastes like a cross between bread pudding and baklava and is a family favourite in Türkiye, especially served with kaymak (cream) or vanilla ice cream. Another option is sütlaç, Türkiye’s traditional milk-based pudding. Sütlaç tastes similar to English rice pudding, and the classic version is a sweet and creamy mix of rice, milk, and sugar that’s baked and served warm with an almost crème brulee top.

Turkish Drinks: As a predominantly Muslim country, many Turks refrain from drinking alcohol and opt for tea (cay), Turkish coffee, sodas, a specially mixed fruit juice called şerbet, fresh lemonade (limonata), or a salty yoghurt drink called ayran instead. In saying that, Raki, an alcoholic beverage similar to Greek ouzo, was considered Türkiye’s national drink until recently and is enjoyed by locals with meze, meat and fish dishes. Other popular alcoholic beverages include local beers, and a wide range of fine local red and white wines are also available – ASK US for details.

DÉCOR & TABLE ENHANCEMENTS

Space and storage are often limited onboard but stocking a few traditional table enhancements is an excellent idea if you regularly cruise in Türkiye. There are many options available:

Turkish Evil Eye Beads. You find these attractive blue and white glass beads everywhere in Türkiye, and a few beads scattered across the table can really add some sparkle. The Nazar Boncuk not only looks great but also prompts discussion as they are believed to be a good luck symbol that fends off the widely feared “evil eye”.

Mosaic Lamps and Tealight Holders. The beautiful mosaic lamps you see in Türkiye date back to the Ottoman Empire. During these pre-electric days, candles provided light, and a well-lit room was a luxury. The Sultans commissioned artisans to decorate glass bowls for their candles in bright colours to create an atmosphere in their palaces and mansions. These designs evolved, and mosaic lamps were born. They come in many colours and intricate patterns, and a few mosaic candle holders or lamps add character to the table.

Turkish Fabric, Cushions, Napkins and Table Runners. A traditional Turkish or Ottoman-inspired table runner or some bright and colourful napkins can be stored away easily and adds an instant Ottoman feel to the dinner table. There are many designs available in a wide range of colours and traditional motifs. Elaborate hand-embroidered table runners make a fabulous centrepiece that can be used repeatedly. Alternatively, less expensive runners, cushions and materials also look great and are easy to supply.

Traditional Turkish Plates and Ceramics. Türkiye’s history of producing ceramics dates back thousands of years – think about the pottery of the Hittites and the distinctive tiles of the Iznik. Pottery has played an essential role in everyday life, and Türkiye’s Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman influences have all made their mark on the ceramics we see today. Turkish plates or serving platters can be supplied in many elaborate designs that add colour and interest to the table.

FLOWERS & TABLE ARRANGEMENTS

Flowers not only look and smell great, but they also add a natural ambience and depth to a space. Türkiye is best known for its tulips, as they were the Ottomans’ favoured flowers and the Turks first introduced tulips to Europe and Amsterdam. Alternatively, roses are also extremely popular. Most guests appreciate table arrangements, so let us arrange a locally inspired centrepiece for the table.

TRADITIONAL TURKISH MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

The 360 Yachting team can supply a wide range of talented musicians, artists, performers and entertainers to the yacht. When it comes to a Turkish night, traditional musicians, belly dancers and folk dancers are the most popular options. We can also arrange DJs, fire dancers, acrobats and many other acts. ASK US for information.

LET 360° YACHTING MAKE YOUR TURKISH NIGHT AN EVENT TO REMEMBER

Most guests expect at least one theme or party night during their travels, and hosting a Turkish night is a great way to showcase the best in local cuisine, culture and traditions. Organising a theme night is never easy, and reliable ground support and top-quality provisions are vital. 360 Yachting can help organise all sorts of bespoke events, and creating an authentic Turkish night is our speciality. If you’re thinking of holding a theme evening and require our assistance, please CONTACT US. For more culinary inspiration and ideas on how to entertain guests during your travels in Türkiye, take a look at our TURKEY TRAVEL BLOG.