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MULTIMEDIA
May 27, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hammur Restaurant ready to delight mantı lovers

Hammur Restaurant in Göztepe, Kadıköy, is run by 56-year-old Ertuğrul Atahan (R) and his 52-year-old wife, Kıymet.
2 February 2010 / ASLIHAN KÖŞŞEKOĞLU , İSTANBUL
Hammur is not only a place that serves mantı -- small dumplings filled with meat and served with yogurt and melted butter -- but a warm place where the hopes of a couple have been rekindled.
 The place, in Göztepe, Kadıköy, is run by 56-year-old Ertuğrul Atahan and his 52-year-old wife, Kıymet. In addition to mantı, they serve different pastries and baked goods. Let me warn you that even if you just go to have mantı, you might change your mind when you see all the other goods and pastries, which are all made by Kıymet teyze herself. Her biggest helper is her husband. She cuts the dough into tiny squares, and Ertuğrul amca pinches them together. They wouldn’t be able to make enough if they didn’t work together, they say. “There are two of us, and we make all the mantı fresh. If every person that comes buys a kilogram of mantı, then it is finished right away,” Ertuğrul amca said. “After we finish all our duties, we start working on the mantı. I don’t hesitate at all. I do it with great pleasure. Mantı time is a time for us to relax.” It’s only been nine months since the place opened its doors to the public but it already has many regulars. One of these people is Esma Özyürt, who takes an art course at the Halis Kurtça Cultural Center located right next to the shop. “It is a nice, clean place. The people are very friendly. I feel like I am at home,” Özyürt says.

The story behind what led the Atahan couple to open the shop is actually quite interesting. Ertuğrul amca began explaining the story with the words, “We have seen everything in this world. We have experienced wealth and hardship,” giving a sense of what the years have shown them. Ertuğrul amca, who owned a Yataş franchise for many years, had nine stores. He travelled to many countries such as America, Italy and Spain and lived a wealthy life until 2001, when he lost his fortune in the economic crisis. In his words, his biggest mistake was the investments he made during the crisis period. He sold 11 pieces of property to repay his debts, and he still owes money to the state, he says. After these unfortunate experiences, the couple kept to themselves until they received an offer from Kıymet teyze’s cousin. Realizing that Kıymet teyze can make delicious pastries, he asked her to prepare some baked goods for a foundation he is affiliated with. Kıymet teyze started baking pastries and cookies for children on Saturdays and for families that came to the foundation on Sundays. But then one of Ertuğrul amca’s close friends from Fenerbahçe Lisesi was diagnosed with leukemia and the couple spent most of their time with their friend for five-and-a-half months. Kıymet teyze was very loyal to the family friend and traveled to Antalya on a regular basis for their friend’s treatment. The owner of the store that is now Hammur was this ailing friend of theirs and had been renting it out to a hairdresser for the past 10 years.

Let’s get the rest of the story from Kıymet teyze. “The last time I took my friend [who has since passed away] to Antalya, we received news that their tenant had left the store. My friend’s daughter said, ‘Kıymet teyze, you make delicious things, you could do some things at the store.’ Of course, to be able to do anything you need money. At first I thought it wasn’t possible. But then it started making sense over time. When my friend assured us not to worry about the rent, we got pretty encouraged. They even gave us financial support, and that’s how we got started.”

At first Kıymet teyze started working with her sister-in-law, who later had to stop working because of health problems. The store became like a second home for the couple. “We do everything here. We don’t cook anything at home any more,” they say.

They have no complaints. “We started a new beginning at a time when we were supposed to be getting ready to relax but we don’t see it as a burden. Thankfully, we have managed to keep everything together. This is what’s important,” they say expressing their contentment in life.

They occasionally have entertaining activities at the shop as well. On the walls, there are photographs of children taking part in fun activities, accentuating the warmth of the shop. (Hammur Tel: 0216 566 77 27)

Colorful mantı’s from Kıymet teyze

Kıymet teyze is open to innovations at her shop. The best example of this is the colorful mantı she makes. By colorful, we don’t mean mantı made with food coloring. Green colored mantı is made by adding spinach juice to the dough and red hot mantı is made with red pepper powder. If you like spice, then you’ll realize the amazing taste the instant you put the mantı in your mouth. The colorful mantı appeals not only to the eyes but also to the taste. Let me also point out that the quality and freshness of the ingredients is very important at the shop. Ertuğrul amca only purchases ingredients from trusted and reliable places.

 
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