Sofra, Edmonton

For most of my eating life, pitas were semi-dry bland carbs that came in plastic bags from the grocery store. But oh to have been born in the Mediterranean.

My first taste of a real pita, puffy and fresh from the oven happened at Sofra Authentic Turkish Cuisine. It’s simply sublime.

Sofra, EdmontonYuksel Gultekin opened this instantly cozy restaurant last month. He went to Turkey to apprentice with chefs there, came back, installed a custom oven and now nurtures his new venture from the tiny kitchen.

You can watch Gultekin make the pita from scratch. Pita moulded by love and brushed with butter is scrumptious. Try it with the red pepper dip.

My mom obviously never made anything like this but it feels like comfort food. The adana kebab is a hefty skewer of spiced minced meat and the chicken kebab is so juicy but my favourite is the Turkish meatballs.

All of the entrees come with an impressive side of bulghur with minced red peppers and onions, greens with mustard vinaigrette, grilled veggies and some yogurt.

Sofra, Edmonton

Sofra’s good vibes must also come from the glass-eye amulets tucked into each tabletop. It’s a Turkish charm to ward off the evil eye - a curse that a jealous person can cast on another. That means, keep your eyes off my meatballs!

On top of all that, the very hard-working staff are incredibly efficient and friendly. Their cardio levels must be top-notch too, running up and down the stairs to the basement dishwasher.

Sofra Authentic Turkish Cuisine, #108, 10345-106 St., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, (780) 423-3044. Open for dinner Tues-Sun at 5 p.m. Reservations recommended.