Meet a Turkish ‘professor of meat’ in Souk Al Bahar

o country in the world, except perhaps South Africa, holds meat in such high regard as the Turks. In Turkey, meat dishes are placed on a pedestal and revered. No one takes that more seriously than Cuneyt Asan, famous in his home country and owner of new restaurant Günaydin. A proclaimed professor of meat, Cuneyt is also the fastest butcher in the world. We didn’t know such an accolade existed either, until we saw him, meat-cleaver in

Nhand, slicing like a Gladiator. Fortunately, the fruits of his knife welding labour are delicious. The shawarma, in particular, is succulent slices of wafer-thin lamb wrapped in bread. It needs no additional sauces or seasoning. It’s that good. Proof, then, that meat diced rather than machineprocessed helps to lock in flavours. Thanks professor – consider us properly schooled.

Souk Al Bahar, daily noon to midnight. Tel: (04) 5540700. Metro: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. gunaydindubai.com