Sezen Pilaf

“One night during the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, Sezen Aksu was in Antalya. After her performance, around midnight, she came to 7 Mehmet with her team. At that time, my father was in charge of the restaurant. Sezen Hanım told the waiter that she loved 7 Mehmet’s iç pilav (stuffed pilaf) and wanted to order it. However, at that hour there was no iç pilav available, and preparing it would take two hours. So my father suggested making our bulgur pilaf, which contained ingredients similar to the traditional iç pilav. First came the mezes, then the hot appetizers, then our richly prepared bulgur pilaf, and finally the dessert of pumpkin pudding!

While having coffee, Sezen Hanım said she loved the pilaf and wanted to meet the chef who prepared it. When my father arrived at the table, Sezen Hanım, showing her admiration for the pilaf and with her playful sense of humor, said, ‘Marry me!’ My father replied, ‘But I’m married,’ to which she said, ‘Then let’s be friends.’ My father responded, ‘But I already have a friend, Sezen Hanım.’ After this playful exchange and cheerful conversation, Sezen Hanım asked, ‘Does this pilaf have a name?’ My father said it didn’t, and she replied, ‘Then let’s call it Sezen Pilavı,’ giving the dish its name.

The funny part is that once a dish becomes associated with a celebrity at the restaurant, other famous guests also jokingly request, ‘I like a dish like this—can you make a meat dish named after me?’ and this still happens today.”

You can find the recipe for Sezen Pilavı, one of Turkey’s most famous bulgur pilafs, on page 263.