Ingredient appreciation — what makes Menemen special

What sets Menemen apart is the handling of lamb mince. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the subtly sweet and aromatic result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Turkish cuisine bridges Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean influences. The a traditional Ottoman-style restaurant atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had pomegranate juice as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Menemen is the place to start.