When one thinks of Turkish food, some may remember last week’s drinking session that ended with a greasy kebab late at night. That overnight stop is nothing like the culinary delights one will experience when visiting Turkey. In fact, the Ottoman Empire passed laws requiring food to be served fresh and this has been followed until now.

The Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest in the world. The ingredients used in Turkey are fresh daily with a variety of seasonal offerings as the weather accommodates a variety of supplies. Turkish staples include vegetables, fish, and lamb with generous amounts of olive oil. The diversity allows Turkey’s climate to grow and produce fresh tomatoes, olives, melons, peppers, wheat, tea, etc. The surrounding seas are abundant with fish, as any boat tour will attest. Grouper is an excellent dish with a mild yet distinctive flavor – a cross between halibut and sea bass.

Turkish dishes include a selection of mezze dishes; They are like Spanish tapas, which include a variety of hot and cold starters, served on one or several plates. These include spicy tomato sauce (Ezme), carrot with mint and garlic, yogurt, cucumber and mint (Haydari), stuffed vegetables (Dolma), squid, halumi, tahin. And of course, the pita bread does justice to the hummus and the many colorful chili and tapenade spreads. Turkish mezze starters are light enough to convey the flavors and leave room for a main course and possibly dessert of baklava.

Having such a rich influence of olive oil in the diet, it is not surprising that the native Turks have a low rate of heart attacks and their skin is soft and supple. The freshness of the food ensures that the body is always well nourished with vitamins. Dishes served near or on the coast, such as Kalkan or Oludeniz, are mainly based on seafood; this has been well established by scientists as the healthiest choice of food.

The crystal clear ocean water that surrounds Turkey and its beneficial lifestyle are becoming more and more recognized, resulting in a strong increase in demand for Turkish property for sale. Westerners are beginning to recognize Turkey as an up-and-coming residence preference. Advancement in hospitality, coupled with a healthy lifestyle and the affordability of property for sale in cities like Kalkan, are making Turkey the choice for vacation and retirement destinations. The coastal towns have stunning views of the oceans and, combined with the gourmet offerings, it’s an easy choice, both for vacations and extended retirement.

The proximity of the sea ensures the freshness of fish and in all coastal cities, and Kalkan villas on the slopes are for sale at very affordable prices – these are half the cost of dank and tiny European dwellings.

Many restaurants will offer an a la carte menu along with the fresh catch of the day. The fresh catch is ready for you to read and choose by weight. There can be no food fresher, more affordable and enriched with essential vitamins than that of a Turkish city.

A visit to Kalkan is not complete without a visit to Moonlight Terrace & Cafe Bar; Kalamar Yolu No. 9 Kalkan-Antalya. The Moonlight Terrace offers nourishing authentic Turkish food. Owner Osman is the epitome of a gracious host. Moonlight prides itself on being “a small family run restaurant that prides itself on good quality freshly cooked traditional Turkish food. With the stunning views from our rooftop terrace you will enjoy a great value and relaxed meal”. Osman’s own mother is a chef and conjures up delicious authentic Turkish cuisine. She tries their Biber Dolma (stuffed peppers) or perhaps the Karniyak (eggplant fried and then stuffed with minced beef, garlic, onion, tomato, green pepper and spices).

This restaurant “does what it says on the tin”: the views of the bay are spectacular and the food is divine. If you are lucky enough to have a Kalkan hillside villa or planning to invest in one, Moonlight Terrace will become one of your staples.