The best thing about travelling around Turkey on business, is that all Turkish clients go out of their way to feed you and at some of the best local places.

In Konya I was taken to Feslegen. My client was shocked to find out that I was vegetarian and to ensure I was fed well, he ordered every great vegetarian option on the menu. And oh my god were they great! I normally chat away whilst dining…not at Feslegen! I was just amazed at how fresh the ingredients were and how each and every vegetable was delicious.

A simple green salad with capers, carrots, tomatoes and sweetcorn was so juicy and sweet. The fresh yogurt was like cutting into gelato with a spoon. The sauteed ladyfingers and egg plant were hitting the spicy spot. The presentation of the sun dried tomatoes was so appetizing. The hot yogurt soup was almost better than Indian kadhi. And all this food combined with frothy home made ayran (turkish lassi) was just perfect!

And then it was time for desert. One trouser button had to open as there no way I was leaving without trying the pumpkin halvah in a sesame sauce with Eastern black walnuts (the fruit of walnuts). Divine and surprisingly not too sweet.

If you are ever in Konya for business or visiting Mevlana’s tomb, check out Feslegen.

Feslegen, Mahmuriye Mah, Istasyon Ferit Pasa Cad, No 27, 00903323222203

6 Turkish cities, a dip in the sea and a hammam treatment later I have finally managed to sit down in front of my lap top. Last weekend my parents came to visit me in Istanbul. Where do you take a mother who is an incredible cook and a father who has high food standards? In the city of kebabs I needed to find a great vegetarian option that would impress my parents.

So I took them to Kosebasi, one of my favourite restaurants in Istanbul. On paper Kosebasi is not the restaurant I would normally pick: a Turkish chain restaurant famous for its kebab. In reality it is an elegant South Anatolian restaurant, pleasing both vegetarians and carnivores.

Before getting a chance to look at the menu, a waiter brought a wide selection of mezzes for us to choose from. They all looked so fresh and colourful. The Turkish salad - toros was to die for. Finely chopped parsley, rocket, mint and tomatoes in a mix of spices and sour pomegranate sauce with hot nan/puffed bread.

We filled ourselves on eggplant in a yogurt sauce, fresh green peppers, kisir (cracked wheat) and Turkish pastries.

For main course admittedly there is not much variety for vegetarians. Nevertheless the chef made us Turkish style pizza stuffed with smoked aubergine, which we enjoyed with fresh Ayran (Turkish equivalent of lassi). My mum was in heaven. For my mum the smoked aubergine was like eating Indian baingan bharta, and the “Turkish pizza” was like Indian rotlo. My mum was determined to learn the recipe for this dish!

For desert we indulged in a semolina halvah stuffed with ice cream and a rice pudding very similar to the Indian kheer. For the rest of the trip my mum compared every meal to this one! If you plan to go to Kosebasi don’t go on the first night, as every meal after may be a disappointment.

If you are a carnivore every Turkish person will tell you that Kosebasi is a great place. If you are a vegetarian, trust me the mezzes are the best in town. Kosebasi is quite pricey for Turkish standards, but given the great food and the elegant local atmosphere I think its totally worth it. Make sure to book in advance.

Kosebasi, Çamlık Sokak No:15 3.Levent,  00902122702433, Istanbul – Turkey

Ever found yourself in a situation where you desperately need a dress for that oh so important event, but frustrated that your choice of dresses is limited? Even if you find a potential dress, your breasts don’t quite fill it, or the length is just not right, or 20% of the crowd is most likely to have seen that dress on their very same dress hunt?

I know how you feel. Luckily I now shop in Istanbul and have found a boutique that makes one off dresses for dresscholic girls. If you want heads to turn, I am certain Dresscholic will have a dress for you.

On a first look the collection of dresses may look a bit extravagant, bold and daring. Look a bit closer and you can find some elegant items that are stylish yet more modest.

Dresscholic in Nisantasi is surrounded by a number of boutiques. The other boutiques in Nisantasi also have great dresses, but are more up market and snobbish in both their display and service.

I am a sucker for service and Dresscholic trumps its rivals on this matter. When in Dresscholic I felt like I was on a girls day out (even though I was alone!).  Esra the designer and owner gave me, the uncertain potentially annoying customer, all the attention I wanted.  As I changed from one dress to another in the very pink and girly changing room, Esra snapped away taking pictures of me so I could send them to my mum. Within 5 minutes a tailor came to alter my choosen dress and make it look like it was designed with my measurements in mind. I just need to wait 4 days for the alterations and then I can turn some heads in Milan!

If you are in Istanbul check out Dresscholic.  You can find a lovely dress for about £150. There is always an occasion to look good, stylish and stand out from the crowd. 

Dresscholic, Ihlamur yalu Sak. No 9/1 A Tesvikiye, 00902122967601, Istanbul – Turkey