Post by Ella.
And it’s not IKEA’s Swedish meatballs. Depot 62 in Manchester, VT bills itself as a furniture store with a central dining area. You can eat lunch or dinner and shop for a sofa or rug. We walked up the creaky wooden steps and into a blast of warm spice aroma with the glow of a large stone, wood-fire oven casting dancing yellow lights onto the prominent wine rack. A Turkish feast awaited.
Late afternoon, we’d already taken in the Southern Vermont Arts Center (it’s a do not miss, separate posts coming) and a hike so we were ready for drunch.
Alp Basdogan, the owner of Depot 62, is a designer and importer originally from Turkey.
I’ve used the descriptions from the menu. No disappointment here. Every dish tasted as good as it sounds.
We started with Ezme:
“A delicious combination of paprika, pomegranate molasses, oregano and walnut, Ezme is a side dish both sour and sweet. The perfect flavor-complement to all our dishes, and served with Pide Bread.”
As the main, I had Guvec Stew:
“The Mesopotamian earthenware pots in which so much Turkish food is cooked and served are called Guvec. Our Guvec Stew—a delicious combination of portobello and shitake mushrooms, tomato, garlic, and cubed eggplant—is slow-cooked and caramelized in our wood-fired oven. Served with White Rice and warm Pide Bread.”
Grubb had Konya Kebab:
“Konya is a town in Turkey’s agricultural center known for the raising of Lamb and Fresh Vegetables. Depot’s delicious Lamb Kebab is locally sourced and spiced with paprika and oregano. Cooked and presented in a Guvec pot for sharing and sampling and served with White Rice and a plate of warm Pide Bread.”
Fully and uncomfortably sated, we wandered into the furniture area. Turkish rugs, Turkish sofas, Turkish scarves, Turkish adornments.
It all sounds divine!
All the more because it was an unexpected discovery.