Sakarya Tatlıcısı

Sakarya Tatlıcısı is a small and unassuming sweets and pastry shop. I used to eat their freshly made warm poğaças every morning during high school. Their most famous item though is the quince dessert with clotted cream. This is hands down the best and richest and darkest quince dessert I’ve ever had, with a thick and milky clotted cream on top. Their tea is almost always freshly brewed. Great for a little escapade.

What to order: Ayva tatlısı with kaymak, i.e. quince dessert with clotted buffalo cream. The quince dessert is only made when it’s in season, which is approximately early fall to mid spring. Otherwise fresh cheese poğaças in the morning are also well-made, however they lose their textural quality when they wait for too long and are below lukewarm temperature. Turkish tea to accompany all this.

What to know: Quince desserts are notoriously difficult to make at home, at least at this level. The ruby red colour comes from the seeds of the quinces. This makes most homemade quinces have an amber colour at best, let alone a pale red. The rich and thick texture of the cooked quince and the dark hue of its red make the people behind this place a master in their craft.