Because I had a bit of a reputation as a foodie back home in Hawaii and now having spent more than nine years exploring the various regional dishes in Turkey, I’m often asked for my favorite restaurant in Istanbul. The question makes me nostalgic! I can remember the exact moment I fell in love with…
My first visit to Athens was in 2008 on our way to a cruise of the Greek islands – which also included my first ever stop in Turkey. That trip, we visited the Acropolis ruins in the middle of a sweltering summer day and I was too hot and weary of the crowds to truly…
When it comes to trying wines in another country, it can be intimidating to know where to start. Although I love wine and have gotten into native grapes in Turkey, I had very limited experience with Greek wines. The grape names are long and unfamiliar – I didn’t even know which were white grapes and…
Many people have asked for trusted charities that are getting aid to those on the ground here in the regions of Turkey and Syria affected by the devastating earthquakes on February 6, 2023. I’ve started to add links to just a few of the organizations that I’ve either donated to personally or know to be…
Find the answers to all your questions about visiting Istanbul. Where to stay, what do do and most importantly – what to eat! Travel tips and inspiration from ShoyuSugar.com.
When I first moved into my apartment it was unfurnished. In Turkey that means a complete blank slate: no appliances, curtains, not even light fixtures. I felt excitement at being able to fill up my space thoughtfully, surrounding myself only with carefully-selected things I loved. But at the same time, furnishing a whole 2-bedroom apartment…
Tulip season in Turkey really kicks off in April, and it’s a beautiful way to welcome the spring in Istanbul. If you’re visiting Istanbul during the month of April, you definitely should make a stop to visit the Istanbul Tulip Festival! As of April 3, 2024, we saw that the tulips were already in bloom…
People often ask me questions about the life I’m living, and I get it. I’m definitely not following a conventional path in life or career and some of the choices I make tend to leave others scratching their heads a bit. I often hear, “I wish I could do what you do, but…” or “I…
Each year when I look back at this post, it reminds me of the years that I’ve spent in Turkey during Ramazan. This year, in 2024, is quite different from the first year when I’d just arrived! Back then in 2015, I was living in Cappadocia in a small village called Goreme. You may know…
I had first seen Cervejaria Ramiro on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations episode on Lisbon. Known for serving a huge variety of fresh seafood with grilled steak sandwiches for “dessert”, it was on my short list of places to visit in my trip to Portugal. I had plans to meet my friend Flavia from Brazil for…
