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• Rafet Yaman of Istanbul Mediterranean Cuisine sits down with buzz

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Istanbul Mediterranean Cuisine is located at 2506 Village Green Place in Champaign. photo by Paul Habeeb

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Istanbul Mediterranian Cuisine »
Address: 2506 Village Green Place Champaign, IL 61822
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With the lights dimmed and Mediterranean music playing lightly in the background, Istanbul Mediterranean Cuisine sets the mood for a tranquil evening filled with a delectable abundance of food. Istanbul has a six page menu that is sure to please anyone’s particular taste buds. Taking it upon himself to make sure that comes true, chef and owner Rafet Yaman shares the details that go into the preparation of a truly authentic Mediterranean meal.

buzz: What type of food is considered Mediterranean?

Rafet Yaman: Mediterranean foods come from countries located up and down the Black Sea, so like Italian, and a little bit of French, but we mainly concentrate on Greek and Turkish foods. There are lots of lamb, beef, chicken, kebabs, and seafood.

buzz: What made you choose Mediterranean cuisine as your culinary focus?

RY: I was born in Istanbul, Turkey, so I have a lot of experience with that type of food. Plus, there are really no other Mediterranean restaurants in the Champaign-Urbana area, so it would be a unique restaurant here.

buzz: What is your favorite entrée at Istanbul?

RY: It’s hard to choose one since I enjoy them all, but the stuffed eggplant and the different types of kebabs here are delicious.

buzz: What type of preparation is involved with the foods at Istanbul?

RY: Well, a lot of our products, including our fish, come here directly from Turkey and Greece. We don’t use any canned or processed foods, and nothing is ever frozen. We make everything completely fresh, every single day. Even our bread, we bake that twice a day, every day.

buzz: When at other restaurants, do you use your culinary knowledge to determine the quality of its food?

RY: I don’t get to eat out much, seeing as I’m at Istanbul most of the time! However, when I do get the opportunity, I find it fairly easy to form an opinion on another restaurant’s food and preparations.