Weekly A to Z, September 7th.

The I've gotta tell you about Bodrum one. 🧿🇹🇷

Let’s start at the beginning, when three intrepid travelers almost missed their flight…while seated from across the gate. Friends, ALWAYS check the exact gate and listen to announcements! Ahem.

So, I’m not entirely sure how I’ve not made it to Bodrum before now, but I completely fell in love, and Maçakızı might be one of my favorite places I’ve visited in 2024. We were treated to a boat transfer to the property and a beautiful outdoor dining experience at Ayla. While not a traditional fine dining approach, I enjoyed the “Acts” on the menu, especially the amberjack, which is a must-order.

After a leisurely morning on Monday walking around Turkbuku, we enjoyed a seaside lunch at Cafe Med, which perfectly balanced lighter dishes and traditional Turkish plates. After getting scrubbed within an inch of my life during a hammam treatment, we saved room for the tasting menu at Maçakızı*. With a tight tasting menu (5 courses), there was plenty to enjoy, but my favorite dish was the beef “tagliatelle” in tarragon butter. Chef Aret Sahakyan looks after both kitchens (Ayla and Maçakızı) and is clearly talented. #invited

On Tuesday morning, we transferred to The Edition Bodrum (in one of the most tricked-out rides ever), our home for several exclusive Luminary Set experiences. We were welcomed with champagne and specialty ice cream (!) before heading to the beach for an alfresco lunch and pool time. Afterward, there was a fascinating art therapy experience before dinner at Brava by Stefano Ciotti, which included some of the most charming and inventive cocktails I’ve seen and a brilliant branzino. And PS — one of the best surprises of the trip was my personalized, hand-painted bag.

On Wednesday, we had a communal breakfast at Kitchen (the potato gozleme is to die for!) before heading out to explore parts of unknown Bodrum, including a visit to a generations-old mandarin farm (delicious!) and a covert stop at a home winery, Neferiye. Did you know that grapes grow on trees? I didn’t (technically, it’s called agroforestry)! For dinner, we were seated at sunset for an incredible dinner at Kitchen by Osman Sezener* featuring the talent of Chef Osman Sezener (who also escorted us in the morning). Favorite courses? Tough choices! The opening sea bream tartare was exceptional, as was the calamari. I’ll be sharing additional Reels on the entire experience, so stay tuned.

On Thursday, it was time to travel home. 😔 Before heading to the airport, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast (full of Turkish delicacies).

On Friday, I went to pick up Poppy from her beloved Woof and admire the pool update—we’re almost there!

A final thank you to the hard work of the Katch, Marriott, and BonVivant Communications teams, respectively, for putting together one of my favorite press weeks in a very long time. With respected/favorite colleagues, access to top-level chefs, and superb meals, there was also plenty of downtime to reflect, work, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. For ongoing highlights of the trip, please click here.

Links, please.

• While it’s been an open secret for months, I’m delighted for the official announcement of the Best Chef Awards 2024, which will be held in Dubai later in the year!

• Sarah’s got a new podcast on KSA. Spotify

• It’s giving zen (a masterclass in marketing). ✨slay✨ Instagram

• Don’t come for the Italian beach picnic. NYT

• Would you try ketchup…sprinkles? Dieline

• Yes, I definitely want this $2,500 mattress pad. The Strategist

• FlyDubai reports record growth in female representation. Connecting Travel

• Go behind the scenes of the White Lotus S2 location. Town & Country

• 10/10 would try this mini pickle galette. Lily Morello

• The most annoying questions for bartenders. Vine Pair

• Put more boundaries in your life to get time back. Be More With Less

• KFC x Corksicle. NRN

• Kid Cudi funnel cakes. Yahoo

• This tuna melt looks amaze. NYT

• Vivino is opening its first brick-and-mortar store! The Drinks Business

• One way to avoid solo dining. Washington Post

• I met the man who invented the breakfast martini. Vine Pair

• Would you try canned carbonara? (I would!) The Guardian

• Earlier dinners, smaller bills — dining out today. The Standard

• The five culinary capitals of the world. Gourmet Traveller

• I want one in every color. DWR

• Contestest words used to describe wine. The Drinks Business

• How to deal with flight anxiety. Womens Health Magazine

• Dorm rooms have come a long way. NYT

This weekend? Laundry and (hopefully) enjoying cooler weather.

Next week? A busy one! I’m looking forward to trying the new season at moonrise*, and heading to the capital for a boozy collab at The Edition Abu Dhabi.

If you enjoy this newsletter, consider working with me, purchasing my books (including these novels), or buying me a Cosmo. Also, a reminder is that a subscription to support this newsletter is only $30 per year—or $2.50 monthly. If you open the Weekly A to Z every week, please consider subscribing.

C.

❤️ If you enjoyed this post, please click the like button — it helps others discover my content!

🔁 Similarly, feel free to share or repost this if you think others in your network might enjoy this post.

💬 And finally, I always love a comment! What was your favorite link this week?

Archives of the Weekly A to Z can be found here.