Savor the morning with a Turkish-style breakfast

"After a short drive through dry hills, a stone-walled patio came into view. White tablecloth covered tables were set among olive trees and exotic shrubbery. A building stood a discreet distance away. The sweet morning air had yet to succumb to the heat of the day, and a slight breeze ruffled the trees. Moments after we were seated, steaming glass cups of black tea were poured, and a brigade of small plates began to arrive."

"First came plates of different white cheeses, olives ranging from tiny to near-thumb-size and baskets of bagel-like bread and pastries. Next came charcoal-grilled peppers, platters of tomatoes, arugula and cucumbers, and two spreads, a spicy red pepper spread and a milder, garlic one. I could hardly wait to sample everything. A fresh, traditional Turkish Breakfast is served in a copper egg pan and on white plates. (Gulsen Ozcan/Getty Images/iStockphoto)"

"For sweets, little bowls of rose hip jam and honeycomb were brought, along with purple-skinned figs, both fresh and poached, and the best, sweetest butter I have ever tasted. But there was more. Halloumi cheese, hot off the grill, and egg dishes arrived, along with platters of cured meats, and we were offered icy cold herb and fruit drinks, in addition to the never-ending hot tea."

A traveler arrived late at a hotel on the Aegean Coast of Turkey, about an hour from Izmir. An early-morning group outing began with a traditional Turkish breakfast presented as an expression of national culture. After a short drive through dry hills, the group reached a stone-walled patio with white-tablecloth tables set among olive trees and exotic shrubbery. Steaming glass cups of black tea accompanied a procession of small plates featuring white cheeses, varied olives, bagel-like breads, grilled peppers, tomatoes, arugula, cucumbers, and spicy and garlic spreads. Sweets included rose hip jam, honeycomb, fresh and poached figs, and exceptionally sweet butter. Halloumi off the grill, egg dishes, cured meats and icy herb-and-fruit drinks completed an unforgettable, communal feast that set a lively tone for the visit to the Aegean.

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