Istanbul Hawai‘i’s Holiday Menu Adds a Delightful Turkish Twist to Your Favorite Seasonal Dishes
(Partner Content) Indulgent dishes and sides, which feature elevated takes on classic festive flavors, evoke the warmth and joy of holidays in the Mediterranean.
Organic duck breast, delicately perfumed with Kula lavender. Photo: Courtesy of Istanbul Hawai‘i
Forget February—we all know the real month of love is December. Christmastime is our moment to celebrate togetherness, revel in joy and share our love for family, friends, partners, pets … and, of course, food.
Mother-daughter chefs Ahu and Nili have built their restaurant philosophy around sharing love through food—you can taste it in every bite—so it makes sense that this month they’ve crafted an exclusive seasonal menu that celebrates all of the comfort and cheer of the holidays, Istanbul style.
Premium grass-fed pirzola (lamb chops), finely aged and infused with baharat spices. Photo: Marisa Heung
The flavors in Istanbul Hawai‘i’s limited-time menu still evoke those warm, cozy, content feelings we love about holiday food, but with a refined Turkish twist that results in a delightful medley of tastes that feel both familiar and delightfully new. “In the warm embrace of this festive season, our holiday menu is lovingly crafted as a tapestry of culinary delight,” share chef Ahu and chef Nili. “Each dish is designed to envelop you in a cocoon of love and joy, echoing the timeless spirit of celebration.”
Istanbul’s holiday menu ($86) is only available on Dec. 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31, and comes with your choice of four main options: organic duck breast perfumed with Kula lavender; grass-fed pirzola (lamb chops) infused with baharat spices; freshly sourced Mediterranean levrek (sea bass); and ras’el hanout spiced cauliflower shawarma, an artfully crafted vegetarian dish for plant-based eaters.
Photo: Janelle You
Each main course includes a spread of five comforting sides that play on Thanksgiving and Christmas flavors, such as cardamom-mastiha butternut squast with burnt marshmallow, orange blossom-infused local seasonal veggies, za’atar mashed potatoes, pomegranate-cranberry sauce and—our favorite—an aromatic herb stuffing, cubes of bread infused with herbs and toasted pine nuts and toasted to crunchy perfection. “Let our carefully curated delicacies become the golden threads that weave through your holiday memories, infusing each moment with a merry sparkle of joy and the tender touch of love,” say the mother-daughter chefs. “We invite you to gather at our table, where the magic of the season flourishes in every bite, wrapping you in the festive cheer of a holiday beautifully savored.”
Istanbul Hawai‘i’s holiday menu is only available on Dec. 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31. Reservations are strongly recommended. For more information on Istanbul Hawai‘i, visit istanbulhawaii.com or follow on Instagram at @istanbulhawaii.
