Dubai witnessed the opening of ‘Sirdanci Mehmet’ restaurant of the famous Turkish celebrity Chef ‘Mehmet Cubuk’ . The Master Chef launched his signature restaurant in partnership with Mr. Musa Umar Chaudhry. Melanie Gordon checks it out.
Sirdanci Mehmet, the winner of ‘Master Chef Turkiye’ title and one of the jewels amongst the crown of Turkish cuisine, a man renowned for his culinary talents and gleeful demeanor, has brought the tenth branch of his renowned restaurant right in the heart of Dubai at Jumeirah.
Sirdanci Mehmet restaurant, the newest house of flavours hotspot in Dubai presented us with more than just delicious bites, it showed us the true meaning of Turkish hospitality at its very best by bringing in celebrities along with a taste of the delicacies and enthralling music.
The guest list definitely was star studded, hosting the talents of: “Heval Özden, Barış Dede (barishresmii), Aydas, Heval, Özden, Apomen, Zana Arslan, Çılgın Dondurmacı, Ammar Basha (Lebanon singer) and Sude Kuleç just to name a few of the amazing faces we saw.
The true star of the evening was the food itself. From the flavourful meats, to the tangy sauces and even the aromatic spices blended into familiar Turkish flavours with Chef Mehmet’s own additions, it all truly added to the experience of the night.
No surprise here that the food was spectacular, ‘Sirdanci Mehmet’ himself is a Masterchef Turkey winner, if that doesn’t speak to his talents and skill then come see for yourself. His story of progress and growth can spark not only the hunger but the wonder of so many who come into his establishment.
“I became what I am today with enormous hard work. When I first entered into the food & beverage world as a newbie, I started off with sweeping the floors. But I persevered. In the process I became a footboy and then a waiter. And then when I entered into kitchen my feelings translated as: Yes Mehmet, this is your job!”, said, Chef Mehmet, the Sirdan maker.
Elaborating on what is available at his restaurant, Chef Mehmet said, “We look forward to serve you our fine dishes; soups, Sirdan. Mumbar (Stuffed sheep sausages), Kibe (stuffed tripe), etc. The recipes are original and belong to me, i.e., Mehmet the Sirdan maker. Also there are desserts with unique tastes”.
There are certainly some unique dishes on the menu, from stuffed sheep and lamb stomach. The claim is that these particular parts of the animal help the body fight certain ailments and bring strength and vitality with a mix of rice, peppers, olive oils and spices. The combination of different meats, all executed genuinely and originally in a Turkish style, will undoubtedly bring the meat lovers in droves to celebrate all things true of this country’s hospitality. The Mumbar (stuffed sheep sausage) was excellent, as well as the Kibe (stuffed tripe). Plenty of onions were served with a side portion of couscous, which was delicately flavoured with chilli. We tried the fantastic Turkish ice cream with a twist served in a warm semolina pancake with strawberries.
“Sirdan is an art for us and we make it the best. For healthier life one must eat Sirdan as it is a key to a healthy lifestyle. And, in my opinion, eating Sirdan can even eliminate the need for Botox”, said, Chef Mehmet. He plans to popularise Sirdan in Turkey and all over the world through his motto ‘Sirdan throughout the world’.
Chef Mehmet concluded by saying, “Our products, which are our original recipes, are prepared in our headquarters according to hygiene standards that is crucial for human health. We serve them in Dubai at exact quality and taste as in Turkey”.
“Despite it’s high standards in taste & quality, our food is quite affordable. So, we are expecting the restaurant to be very popular and successful. So, we plan to open more branches of the restaurant all over UAE including Abu Dhabi & Sharjah, said, Musa Omar Chaudhry, a serial entrepreneur.
If you are looking for traditional, authentic Turkish cuisine, then look no further than this new restaurant.