Turkish Cuisine to be Served at Cappadocia Café in White River Junction, Vermont

The Oktay family, the successful force behind two renowned Turkish restaurants in Vermont, has yet another exciting venture to satisfy foodies in the area. The co-owners are busy preparing to unwrap their new gastronomic gift Cappadocia Café this spring. Involved in this culinary endeavor are brothers Vural and Hasan Oktay along with Vural’s wife, Jackie.

They are the proud owners of the highly appreciated Istanbul Kebab House located in Burlington and Tuckerbox situated in White River Junction. Vural and Jackie are also the proud proprietors of Little Istanbul, an exotic retail outlet based in White River Junction that displays an assortment of imported goods originating from Turkey, the brothers’ homeland.

The much anticipated Cappadocia Café will open its door for public in Vermont at 5 South Main Street in White River Junction. The café spot is situated right beside Tuckerbox, in a space that the Oktays are currently refurbishing keeping the delicacy and aesthetics of the outlets in mind. The grand opening they have in sight is the April 1, but this plan revolves around the immigration process for their pair of Turkish chefs who will be running the show in the kitchen, according to Jackie.

The spot where the Cappadocia Café will stand tall was previously occupied by Piecemeal Pies, a beloved eatery for the locals, which functioned from 2016 until its sudden closure in May 2023. The café is sure to add a new flavour to this location and meet the gastronomic desires of the food lovers in town.

Jackie (37) enlightens us about the grandeur that awaits inside the café. Cappadocia Café is going to be adorned with a specially built, meticulously tiled, wood-fired oven that’s intended to set the stage and the taste of the café. The oven will primarily be used to cook scrumptious thin flatbreads named ‘lahmajun’ and cone-shaped mouth-watering pizzas named ‘pide’, two of the most ravishingly delicious Turkish delicacies that are going to be the showstoppers at the café.

The tasty ‘lahmajun’ is usually topped with a delightful blend of ground lamb, finely chopped fresh vegetables, parsley, and sumac-marinated onions before being rolled up to serve. Alongside these, the café will also bridge the gap between Vermont and Turkey by offering ‘borek pastries’, a handcrafted dish made in-house with phyllo. The crunchy pastries will be stuffed with a variety of fillings including potato, spinach and cheese or slow-cooked tender beef.

The café will also serve the popular Turkish street food – ‘pogaa’, a culinary art where bread dough is filled with white cheese, parsley and an invigorating assortment of spices that instantly brighten up the taste buds. The café promises to uphold the rich tradition and flavors of Turkish street food and serve them on the plate of the locals.

‘Cappadocia Café’ is named after the enchantingly beautiful volcanic valley situated in the heart of Turkey. The valley is globally famous and magnetic for its visually appealing landscape and centuries-old structures that trace back to the Bronze Age. Jackie paints the picture of Cappadocia as “a magical place”, the Oktay family’s favorite travel destination that sparked the inspiration for the café. With the Cappadocia Café, they aim to make a part of that magic come alive in Vermont while serving the authentic tastes of Turkey.