Hayward, MN
Second pilgrimage to Turk's (photos from first trip were lost)
-->
From the highway it doesn't look like much - maybe a run down motel. Inside, Turk's is a time capsule to place and time that only existed in this spot on the Namekagon River
. There is a lot of myth and history surrounding it - gangsters, world travels, mingling with dignitaries. It is weird and intriguing and each time go we learn a little more-
Much of the structure in and out was hand-built. This bar is the the shape of a boat bow and above is a pink sparkly ceiling. With a martini in hand you are whisked away to another land. This is escapism at its best!
Imagine the different people that sat in these booths - gangsters, politicians, supermodels and that ice fisherman guy from down the street.
Are we in Hayward? It as if we are under the Mediterranean night sky. I can smell the ocean breeze. Wait, this is getting weird!
Portrait of the owner - George. The story is that he came from Istanbul when he was only 16 to live with his uncle. After a few years of running a candy store he had "too much fun" so his uncle arranged a marriage with a girl from St. Paul and he moved to Hayward with only 25 cents.
My question is - what kind of "fun" are we talking about?
This place is a historical monument! There are museum quality relics, paintings, treasures and some odd nick-knacks. You could literally spend hours looking at the stuff!
The legacy of Turk's lives on. George's daughter, Marge still owns it, although her health has not been very good we hear. Marge was a fashion designer and model in New York. She modeled shoes and hats. As you can see, she was absolutely stunning! There are portraits of her throughout.
The clientele and the ambiance - an interesting juxtaposition.
As the menu states, Turk's is "Overlooking the beautiful
Namekagon River as if it were the Black Sea." The back yard veranda tells an interesting story with its fountains, pools, giant bird cages and stairs leading to a crooked bridge and a fairy-tale island.
There were what appeared to be worms in my Turkish pilaf, but I discovered they were actually soggy chow mien noodles. Interesting touch. Turkish recipe, no doubt.
So many details to capture! This silver textured wall paper and the Egyptian art. My head is spinning!
A sample of the entry-way wallpaper. How does one order this? "Um, yes, I am looking for something that tells of my worldly travels."
Ratings (out of 5)
Food | 2
Ambiance | 5++
Service | 4
Relish Tray | 3
Entertainment | 0
Turkish Theme | 5 you're never gonna see anything like this in your life
