Havva Hanım’s Breakfast is located in the quiet Aegean village of Gökçebel on the outskirts of Yalıkavak, not far from Bodrum. Serving breakfast specials like hand-picked garden tomatoes, village flat bread and warm zucchini flower dolma, this petite and peaceful spot adds a personal and loving touch while bringing one to a place where time stops

The golden glorious days of Bodrum’s Türkbükü are certainly here. With the launch of the hip and trendy boutique Highlight Hotel and the increase of high-quality fish restaurants near the Marina, Yalıkavak is making a name for itself as Bodrum’s premier spot this summer.

Although the region hosts much of Istanbul’s high society and foreigners during the summertime, tucked away in the back of one of Yalıkavak’s distinctive villages is a breakfast spot where life is simple, natural and fresh – not to mention filled with animals!

Havva Acar and her family own a small house with a large garden, a few cows and chicken in a village called Gökçebel, a five minutes’ drive up from Yalıkavak. Especially planting and selling tomatoes and other vegetables in addition to dairy products from their cows, holidaymakers, through word of mouth, began hearing about Havva’s produce. While waiting for their milk and tomatoes, Havva Hanim would offer clients börek and perhaps even tea. A few years later, along with her husband, son and with the help of relatives, they started to offer a pre-fix breakfast inside this garden.

Concealed location

Havva’s breakfast place might be difficult to find (make a first right after the Migros on the main street and start asking around once reaching the small, charming village) but that’s its beauty! Upon parking, one is greeted by a dog (with a blue earring – a sign that the municipality has given it the necessary shots!), a few chickens and perhaps some cows. Walking into the simple, shady and lush garden and sitting on one of the wobbly chairs, one truly feels one is in an authentic rural establishment and not a wanna-be-pastoral-and-rustic-yet-commercial spot. Meanwhile, Havva Hanim is always busy cooking in front of the fire stove or rolling the dough on a wooden platter for the börek and gözlemes.

Zucchini-flower dolma in prefix menu

One of the sweet village waitresses with a smiling face slowly begins to bring out the items on the prefix menu; the ripe and exceptionally juicy tomatoes picked right a few meters away from the surrounding tomato garden; various jams like sun-dried strawberry; chucky mama-and-papa style butter made from their own cows’ milk; homemade flat-bread pide right from the oven; and the most popular dish – warm zucchini flower dolmas. The small summer-squash dolmas are cooked daily in the morning by Havva and her crew and have a savory texture. Simpler than the grape-leaf dolmas, the salmon-colored baby zucchini flower is stuffed with rice and served lightly warmed.

After a while, cheese börek is presented to the table by Havva herself, who asks everyone individually if they are enjoying the food. Later, a choice of eggs – omelet, sunny-side-up or hard-boiled – are offered, followed by the slightly greasy spinach and feta cheese gözleme. Finally, Turkish coffee or more tea is brought to the table. All this in a wonderful village atmosphere costs 17 Turkish Liras.

Although the location is a bit difficult to find, Havva’s is well worth the trek. Popular especially among the British vacationing in the area, this simple breakfast house hosts about 20-25 people a day. Call to make a reservation ahead as Havva and the family prepare the night before according to the number of reservations…

Open everyday until 1 p.m., for breakfast only.

Gökçebel Havva Hanımın Kahvaltısı

Ertürk Sokak

Tel: 0532 684 79 66

Source: Hurriyet Daily News