Good People of vitruta: Ömer Dicle

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hello, I’m Ömer. I was born in 1990 in Istanbul. I am one of the partners of Aheste, a meze restaurant located in Pera. I’ve been working in the food and beverage industry for about 10 years. Since I’m doing the job of my dreams, I dedicate most of my time to this restaurant I am passionate about. Smelling, tasting, and sharing with people are some of the things I enjoy the most in life. I love discovering new flavors and trying different wines.

What does a fun day in Istanbul look like for you? What do you do?

For me, a fun day in Istanbul starts with a good coffee. If there’s breakfast, I’m all in 🙂 After that, I come to Aheste and chat with my colleagues about daily life and work (usually filled with jokes and laughter). In the late afternoon, meeting up with friends for a couple of drinks is definitely one of the key parts of this plan, especially if it leads to a nice dinner afterwards. In short, for me, a fun day in Istanbul is about eating and drinking good things, doing what I love, and being with the people I love.

If we go a little outside, what’s your ideal vacation? Where are the places you’ve been to and liked the most, and do you have any recommendations?

I don’t have a clear picture of an ideal vacation in my mind, but I would recommend walking the Lycian Way in Turkey, and combining it with camping, of course. If I’m traveling abroad, Barcelona is indispensable for me. Besides the energy of the city, I’m truly in love with both Spanish and Catalan cuisines. For those going to Barcelona, I recommend not leaving without trying the foie gras puff pastry with a glass of Cava at Petit Comite.

What’s a must-have when packing for your vacation? What do you always bring with you?

My must-haves for a trip are my sunglasses and, of course, a list of the restaurants to visit.

Any book, music, or movie recommendations that have recently influenced you?

I can’t say that I’m a person who reads a lot of books, but I really enjoyed the last book I read, Gizli Ajans by Alper Canıgüz. Although it’s not recent, one of my all-time favorite movies is Sin City — I consider it an iconic cult film without a doubt.

Platforms like Netflix, YouTube, audiobooks, podcast apps have become a big part of all of our lives. Which ones are in your life, and could you share your favorite channels, podcast series, or the series/documentaries you enjoy the most?

Spotify and Netflix are both a big part of my life, as they are for most people. My favorite series is Mindhunter.