TASTE OF TURKEY

SHIRLEY LE GUERN CHATS TO ONE UMHLANGA COUPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE LOCKDOWN TO EXPAND THEIR RESTAURANT BUSINESS

Ismail Teke are counting down to the opening of their new Sofra Istanbul Turkish eaterie on Palm Boulevard opposite Gateway at the beginning of October.

Amazingly enough, although this is happening at a time when many restaurants have closed their doors, it was the lockdown itself that re-ignited the couple’s dream to open a third restaurant to the north of Durban.

The menu comes straight from her mother-in-law's village kitchen in Turkey and reflects the authentic dishes she learnt to prepare

Zohra explains that offers to deliver takeouts en route home to uMhlanga during level 3 of lockdown helped create a whole new client base that was ready and waiting for a sit-down venue.

When they were approached by a landlord eager to replace a restaurant that could no longer trade during the stringent lockdown period at an extremely attractive rental, they couldn’t refuse. They diverted some of the funds from an interest-free loan from the Giving For Hope Foundation they were using to tide themselves over during lockdown, into the new venture.

Ever hands-on, Zohra became the project manager, overseeing everything from tiling to brickwork and innovatively sourcing building materials at a fraction of the price via neighbourhood networks.

“I can’t afford to fail. For me, that’s simply not an option,” says this ex-journalist who met her Turkish husband and acquired her love for Turkish food while travelling around Europe and also visiting Lebanon and the Middle East.

On her return to South Africa, the couple opened their own media company, producing everything from health magazines to running international campaigns for the likes of the World Health Organization.

However, their world was turned upside down when Ismail was diagnosed with cancer. Zohra persevered with her media career while her husband recovered, but says she soon realised he was becoming increasingly frustrated at home.

As he moved into remission, the couple decided to create a place where he could develop a whole new focus and meet with his Turkish friends. They opened their first Sofra Istanbul restaurant at the Pavilion simply because Westville has a

large Turkish community.

However, the Teke’s hadn’t bargained for the growing popularity of their authentically Turkish food and soon found themselves with queues winding through the mall’s food court.

LEFT: Ismail and Zohra Teke, proud restauranteurs of the new Sofra Istanbul Turkish eaterie opposite Gateway.

They also had a number of requests to provide a sit-down restaurant where families and friends could enjoy a Turkish ambience to match the menu. Still trying to keep her media career going, Zohra pitched in to help, becoming the official shawarma wrapper for more than a year.

Their first choice was to set up a sitdown restaurant in Florida Road. After more than a year, they had failed to find the right location and were approached by a landlord offering them a rather run-down doubled storey old house at number 245.

“We fell in love with the building. It was completely different so we decided to renovate it, coming up with the design and decor,” she says. Initially they thought it was too big and would sub-let the top floor, but shortly after they opened in August last year, they realised it was probably too small.

The menu, she explains, comes straight from her mother-in-law’s village kitchen in Turkey and reflects the authentic dishes she learnt to prepare by her side. Rather than reflecting the blander Turkish fare usually offered to tourists, it is closer to what the locals would eat at home, using fresh ingredients and special spices that are imported from Turkey.

She says their third restaurant in Umhlanga will be the same with tasty bread baked fresh on the day and rich, strong Turkish coffees served up in authentic cups, and will also be the blueprint for future franchises.