In our office I’m considered a food snob. Not only was I recently informed I’ve been saying the word ‘satay’ in a much too posh a fashion, but the revelation that I will only eat pizza or pasta at an Italian restaurant sent my colleagues into ripples of laughter across our bank of desks.
I make no apologies for my views on food, nor for my passion for goose rillettes (from Waitose – amazing) as an occasional lunchtime treat with crudités and crusty bread – a girl’s got to indulge once in a while right?
How surprised my workmates, including Pot Noodle connoisseur Hannah, were to hear that I’d, shock horror, been out for a kebab.
I normally only ever make a detour to a high street kebab shop after a night out, when I might stumble in for a portion of chips and chilli sauce, but the idea of eating dried out lamb carved off a synthetic ‘leg’ doesn’t sit well with me.
I’d heard good things though about Cappadocia – the newly opened Turkish grill found in a redundant Little Chef building at Capel St Mary, just off the A12.
Owner Alpi spent a long time renovating the premises, building in an open kitchen with proper charcoal grills, funky lighting and comfortable seating.
The smell as you walk in the door is quite literally mouth-watering, being laden with the aroma of char, herbs and grilled meat.
Cappadocia has a separate entrance for takeaway orders around the other side, which is where we headed, seeing as we were only swinging by for a quick bite following a harrowing shopping expedition, trying to find a mattress topper for my poor hubby.
The menu is extensive and all made in-house, including the pide bread and lahmacun (a type of lamb mince spread pizza) with an expert chef brought-in from Turkey especially to make these.
Starters include hummus, that famous salad of kisir with cracked wheat, celery, parsley, tomatoes and green peppers, and stuffed vine leaves, soups, grilled halloumi and spicy Turkish sausage.
Main courses range from oven-baked specials with creamy sauces, an array of grilled meats and fish, meatballs, salads and, unusually, fish and chips too
After a bit of a wait for our order (they were very busy) we hurried back to the car with our bounty- which kept my lap nice and toasty on the 10 minute journey home,
It’s fair to say the portions are enormous. I couldn’t quite believe that each box was just for one person.
To begin there was a big bowlful of patlican soslu. I have eaten this dish elsewhere and it is one of my favourites, being composed of fried aubergine, potato, garlic, onion, and red and green peppers in a pepper sauce. The veg were divinely soft and full of delicious herbal notes.
My hubby had the chicken kebab (Alpi’s grandparents’ recipe), the children opted for fish and chips (very plentiful) and I had the mixed sis.
Seriously, I could not finish this dish. To delve into it was akin to climbing a culinary mountain.
Within the container were charred pieces of chicken bread, hunks of lamb and minced adana lamb kebab, accompanied by a generous helping of pilaff and grilled Turkish green pepper.
In a separate box was a mixed salad, and wrapped in paper was a gigantic slap of pide, rippled with the pattern of the grill.
The meat was epic. So tender and packed with flavour. The adana kebab in particular was incredible. It had the juicy, sweet flavour of doner meat, was packed with herbs and finely chopped peppers, and had a crisp exterior. It’s making me hungry just thinking about it now.
The pilaff was equally good – really buttery and with loads of flavour.
And the chopped salad contained a variety of vibrant, fresh veg – not a soggy iceberg leaf in sight.
Over the top I poured the house chilli sauce, which wasn’t too hot, liberally, and tucked in- swooped nuggets of meat, sauce and salad onto the indescribably good pide – one of the best I have ever had and setting the bar rather high for other Turkish eateries in the area.
The takeaway menu included ‘afters’ of rice pudding, cheesecake and baklava. I’m not sure we would have been able to fit them in should we have ordered a cheeky dessert.
What can I say? We were all mighty impressed by Cappadocia and have since recommended it to friends who’ve equally enjoyed what they’ve eaten.
It goes onto our concise list of takeaway spots in Suffolk and none of us can wait to go back.
Contact:
Cappadocia, London Road, Capel St Mary, Suffolk, IP9 2JJ. Call 01473 311443.
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