Fasil - not fossil - night

Photo: Kate and Yadi

Last night my friend Kate, her friend Ender, Yadi and I went to "Hanci" for Fasil. Hanci is located in the tiny historical neighborhood in Ankara known as Ulus, the area where you can buy carpets, see a castle and visit an Anatolian history museum. Ulus also has the best Fasil place in Ankara (allegedly). It was so much fun!

We took a taxi from Tunali (cost about 10 lira) and arrived at the Fasil place. It was dark inside and lit by candles. We sat at our table which was laden with mouth watering mezes: ezme (a spicy tomato paste), Turkish tzatziki (I'm actually not sure about the Turkish name), a delicious eggplant dish (yes, I put eggplant and delicious in one sentence), pickles, a potato salad and a normal green salad. We were served our choice of alcohol: wine, vodka, beer or Raki (a Turkish drink which tastes of aniseed - similar to the Greek "Ouzo") and we proceded to eat and drink while watching the Fasil performers - a group of people playing Turkish instruments with a woman singing traditional Turkish songs. Although a continuous supply of mezes would have sufficed for the evening, we were of course served with a main course. The main course was disappointing: a slice of chicken, some rice and some veggies. I can't remember what chicken in like back home in Canada but I find chicken in Turkey to be really dry and flavourless and completely unappealing. I gave my chicken to Yadi and continued enjoying the mezes. Dessert was a plate of fruits. Once dinner was finished, the Turkish women in the restaurant began to get up and dance... and with some encouragement and some help by the unlimited alcohol supplied, so did we! It was fun. Once the Fasil performers finished there was a DJ for about 45 minutes followed by another performer, this time a Turkish man singing popular tunes. It was fun to watch Yadi sing and dance and a really interesting cultural experience! I can't wait to go back and do it again! Food, dance and unlimited drink for 50 TL a person is actually not a bad deal!!

Photo: Alex and Yadi (I promise you he is not a serial killer, even though he looks that way)