Can we say that the easiest and most delicious way to get to know a culture is through the cuisine of that culture? We as epic migrations said yes for this question and today we visited a small diner that cook delicious falafels in Istanbul. We learned some tips about cooking falafels as well as a hearty conversation.
Let’s start!
First of all, what is your name?
My name is Muhammed Emir.
How old are you, uncle Muhammed?
I am 70 years old my kid.
When did you come to Turkey?
I have been in Turkey for 8 years.
What was your job while you were in Syria?
I had a restaurant in Halep. I was living there. I had a job that was nice and I loved, thank god.
How did you decide to come Turkey?
First, our restaurant bombed and then our home. The restaurant was completely in ruins, and the doors of the house were broken. Then, we could not work. On a day when we were not at home, the thieves took the gas in the house and a few pieces of our clothes. While we were thinking about what to do and how to do, we decided to come to Turkey as a family at the insistence of my 2 sons working in Turkey.
How many children do you have, uncle Muhammed?
I have 4 sons and one daughter. One of my sons was martyred as well.
Can you mention about arrival process? What kind of situations that you encountered?
Since my sons came earlier, I did not have much difficulty. My mother was from Antep, her name is Neziha. My grandfather’s nickname is ‘Biber Ali’. Since I have asthma, they used to bring me to Turkey from an early age for a change of air. I even learned to speak Turkish when I was 4 years old in Kilis. That’s why it was easy for us, alhamdulillah.
Which job did you work in Turkey?
I have translated prescriptions in a pharmacy for 4 years. I was working at 1 lira per prescriptions. I met very nice people in there. They also helped us a lot.
How did you decide open a falafel restaurant in Turkey?
My kid, my father learned this job in 1935 in Lebanon. I learned from him when I was 14 and I have been doing this job for 55 years. My son also has been doing this job since he was 13. Now, he runs the restaurant. It’s been 20 years I guess. We make falafel, fette, hummus, full, tebbel. We wanted to continue here as well
What are the dificulties of this job? What kind of difficulties do you experience?
There is no difficulties. You do not experience difficulties, if you do your work with love and care. We don’t have any problems because we’ve been doing it for years. I am just very uncomfortable with flower oil because I have a vascular occlusion in my heart, but alhamdulillah my son has been taking care of it for a few months. We also try to keep the prices affordable, but the hikes are pushing us hard.
Do you pay taxes?
Yes, of course we pay.
How is the attitude of people towards you, are you exposed to racism?
No, I like the people of here and get along well with them. . We saw their kindness, especially my son Ahmet Furkan, who I work in his pharmacy, has been very good to us. Again, I love my girls who work there, they love us too. They greet when they see me. I am pleased with them.
Well, uncle Muhammed as a person has been making falafel for years, can you share with us the tricks of making falafel, why are your falafels so delicious?
First, we soak the chickpeas, then soak them in warm water for 8 hours. After that, we pass it through the meatball machine, add the onion, garlic and spices and mix. Then we roast it and add baking soda so that the falafels swell. Finally, we put it in a mold and cook it in oil and serve it. Almost everyone makes falafels this way, and most of them are delicious.
Okay, thank you very much for accept our interview uncle Muhammed.
You’re welcome my kid. Feel free to come here anytime.
Throughout our interview, Uncle Muhammed shared the falafel recipe with great excitement and sparkling eyes. Through this, we were reminded that what we perceive as the “other” may not be as distant as we think, and strengthening connections between people is easier than we imagine. Kitchens open doors to different cultures and stories, and we believe and know that this delicious journey will never end. Despite different cities and cultures, we understand that the sole thing connecting us is gastronomy, culture, and tradition. In fact, we harbor all cultures within us. As long as we accept these cultures, colors, and differences, everything will be much easier for us.
If you also want to explore new flavors and listen to different stories firsthand, don’t forget to get falafel from Uncle Muhammed when your path leads you to Sultanbeyli.
Writer: Aslıhan Dağlar
**Translater: Zülal Yaren Bezirkan
