Istanbul: Ottoman Cuisine
Photos & Words: Salina Christmas

A miniature painting of Lala Mustafa Pasha giving out a banquet for state officials (Nusratname, 16th Century).

It is said that rice is a Central Asian gastronomical export to Istanbul. Rice is traditionally the staple food of the Easterners (read: Mongols, Chinese).

In a land where cultures collide, it's hard to tell what's Byzantine, what's Turkish, what's Arab and what's Eastern European.

As long as it tastes good, does the origin matter?