I was born in Istanbul and grew up there. I also lived in Italy and the US for a good chunk of my life and am now based in London. 

I’m currently the restaurant critic of Aposto and was previously the founding editor of Apéro, Turkey’s most-read food newsletter where I still do interviews and culture pieces. I cover food through the lens of history, identity, pop culture and the food tech industry.

Before identifying as a writer, I was a failed food truck entrepreneur, a research consultant for venture capital funds, a brand developer for an acclaimed fine-dining restaurant, a taste developer for a global iced tea brand and a single-hit viral TikTok creator.

Dig In Istanbul is a guide made for friends. 

This website was born from the need of putting together all my handwritten recommendations to friends visiting Istanbul. That’s why the language I use is casual and genuine, the tips I give are honest and straightforward and when I ask you to say hi from me to a waiter I mean it.

It always astounded me how one of the great food cities of the world had no detailed, occasion-specific guide. So I made Dig In Istanbul in the efforts to have an easy way to discover different aspects of the Istanbul food scene. You can search for a restaurant based on the neighbourhood, where you are in that moment, the cuisine or the occasion you are looking for.

Also there is a blog part where I try to give context to the food you will be eating and the culture that surrounds it. It’s sort of a 101 on Istanbul food culture, but some historical tidbits and fun facts would be new even to the most seasoned Turkish eaters.