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Healthy food is right at the top of the priority list for the owners of A la Turca.
The new Turkish food business in Manly Village, which opened last month, is co-owned by Adem Ceran and Kahraman Besyaprak.
Adem says that grilling meat for kebabs (once it has been marinated in Turkish spices) and using fresh, unprocessed ingredients makes this a healthy takeaway option that is largely fat free.
Salads are dressed simply with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Freshly squeezed juices are also available and customers can design their own fruit cocktail from the selection.
Sweet treats are not forgotten, with a range of cakes, including traditional Turkish baklava and a cake made from semolina called Revana, and Kiwi favourites such as carrot cake baked by Adem’s sister in law, Gonca Ceran.
“Our house rule is quality, in all the food that we use,” Adem says. He says that perfect hygiene is also the biggest goal.
Along with this comes care for the environment that comes from a love of New Zealand and a desire to keep it clean and green.
“When my father came here, he thought it was the cleanest country he had ever seen and we believe in doing our best to keep it that way. As a family we always feel lucky to be here in New Zealand and appreciate all that it offers us.”
Paper bags are used for A la Turca’s takeaways and the espresso coffee is served in thick paper cups made of recycled material.
The Ceran family has lived in New Zealand for 25 years and this is the second branch of A la Turca that they’ve opened; the first is in Birkenhead.
Adem says that the aim is to give locals an authentic taste of Turkey with the flavours based around those that are popular in the old Turkish city of Konya.
The business has already been embraced by locals, benefitting from the food hub that has become a big part of Manly Village.
“We have had a great start. Everything is in place now and we are going forward strongly.”
