Coffee first found its way to Istanbul in the sixteenth century. Known as the "milk of artists, chess players and thinkers," it quickly became popular with the Ottoman court. Today Turkish coffee retains its appeal thanks to a unique brewing method that produces a delicious aroma and a thick, syrupy consistency, with grounds that settle at the bottom of the cup. Those grounds are useful even after you finish your coffee as they can be read to predict your fortune! But did you know that today tea is actually Turkey's most popular drink? The shift happened when the Ottoman Empire collapsed and coffee became an expensive import. Whichever is your favorite, be sure to enjoy it with the region's most famous sweets - Turkish Delight, a family of confections typically made from chopped dates, pistachios or hazelnuts.

What happens when you take hundreds of colorful bottles of ouzo and other spirits, add oak casks brimming with brandy, then mix in a colorful owner?  You get the magical setting that is Brettos, a “locals bar” like no other.  Join Karine as she explores this Athens treasure.

Dona Manuela's family has been making their famous bread for centuries. Join Karine Hagen as Manuela teaches her how to make her delicious bread and learn how the bakery even helps the environment.