WHILE GÜN LOKANTASI OPENS : WHY DOES ”LONELY PLANET" RECOMMEND KÜFF

 

How were we finding our way when we were traveling in the analog era? 

You managed to come to a city by looking at the signs. So how will you find your way in this city? Where will you travel. Where will you sleep and above all, where will you eat? Throw away  the phone from your hand and imagine yourself as looking at tall towers and attractive buildings from the train station of a city where you don't even know its language.

Inevitably you will get afraid.Since 1973 up until to the Internet revolution in the mid-2000s, the remedy for solo travelers on the planet was in the blue-cover book. You will recognize the blue-covered book from 100 meters away : Lonely Planet. 

Spain, Germany, France and all the more distant parts of the world were made understandable and accessible with this blue book. The book came to life  by putting the writer in the shoes  of a lone traveler. 

Often, multiple authors set out and wrote the book by traveling   a city  or a country. Street by street, eating, drinking and accommodation were planned at sightseeing stops suitable for every budget. Whether your money was more or less, it will not hinder you to see the beauties of the destination.

Plans were being made based only on spending less and more money. Despite  some Turkish stateman  says the opposite, only those who have the opportunity do not go abroad. There is a remedy for those who have no means, and for those who have few. 

I have collected these books for many years. Then the Internet was invented and the carrying those books became less attractive.  Still, I can't give up my books. They  consist memories of an era and filled with nostalgic hints that you may not find on the Internet. 

Lonely Planet books have subsequently created many imitations. There have also been translations into Turkish. On the other hand; the recent economic crisis  and the visa problems have  made difficult to travel for ordinary people.

Nevertheless, those who are curious about the world, whether they have money or not,  continue  and will contiune  travelling the world. Despite those who  think curiosity about the world is reserved for those who have money, Turkish people will continue to travel   to satisfy their interest and curiosity about the common heritage of humanity. 

I was not surprised when I saw the Kuff Cafe  mentioned as one of the places to eat in Kadikoy in the Turkey version of Lonely Planet. 

My path with Kuff Cafe crossed with Urban, which has been the meeting point of Beyoğlu for many decade, before this cafe joined the group. As a Bank Manager  , my  last stop was Kadıköy after Beyoğlu. The natural result of serving in these districts, both of which are known for entertainment industry, was to be closer to cafe and restaurants  more.  Because each business where you spend a few hours for having pleasant meetings are also an economic unit.

My banking path with the Kuff Cafe group crossed in Kadıköy. The secret of this group, which incorporates the spirit of the revolution of 1848s and the common values  of youth culture and being a world person, is summed up by the following sentence in the Turkish edition of Lonely Planet, which I mentioned before :

 “Ticking all of the hipster boxes (third-wave coffee, vegan food, tattooed baristas, in- door plants), this hugely popular cafe spreads over spaces on both sides of Karakolhane Caddesi in up-and-coming Yeldeğirmeni, one of the city’s most bohemian enclaves. You’ll have to queue on weekends, when young locals flock here to enjoy cheap and tasty Turkish breakfasts “

The Kuff Story, which started in 2015, has grown by adding Beyoğlu Urban into its portfolio in 9 years. While enlarging its target audience with the Kollektif  on Sanatçılar (Ali Suavi) Street in Kadıköy, Boden (Hasırcıbaşı) guaranteed an even more original cuisine. Recently opened on İskele Street : Kompartıman which is  close to the epicenter of Küff, gives Today's solo travelers the chance to increase their options. There is no harm in adding the Urban's neighboring Sendika   in Beyoğlu Kartal Street to this list as a fine club . 

Kuff Group's stance, registered on Lonely Planet, which has gained the value and trust of millions of people around the world, continues unchanged in essence against all economic difficulties and crises. 

The mind of creative enterprise comes from Zeki Kulaç, and the kitchen Genius comes from academic cook Kerem Kucukkinacı.

The organic bond that it establishes with its employees and customers is the most important detail that distinguishes Küff from others.

 The last move of Küff was the Gün Restaurant, which came up with the Barbecue concept. The Gün Restaurant on Asmalimescit Gönül Street opens. The karma that will come out of the meeting of Gönül and Gün (Heart and Day in Turkish) will certainly add some forgotten spirit to the  essence of Beyoğlu/Istiklal Street and Pera

Note : I am sharing some news links that have appeared in the press about Kuff Cafe   for more curious.

 https://www.milliyet.com.tr/cadde/sosyal-tirmanici-iliskiler-6061167 https://www.timeout.com/istanbul/tr/restoranlar/kompartiman https://sokakajans.com/pdf/21.04.2018.pdf