Kral Kuruyemiş (literally “King of Nuts”) has worn its crown proudly since day one. At the neighborhood street party celebrating the shop’s opening in 2023, Firat and Ceylan Ückardes watched their shelves sell out completely. You couldn’t ask for a better start. Inside their little palace on Stalenstraat, colorful bazaar-style bins overflow with Turkish dried fruits and nuts, from almonds, cashews, pistachios and more. Much of it is roasted on site in a gleaming copper machine, displayed like a crown jewel and doubling as an irresistible aromatic lure for passersby. But there’s more to this kingdom than nuts: dates and figs, spices and olives, tahini, grape molasses, red pepper and walnut pastes, freshly ground Turkish coffee and shelves lined with Turkish delight. Faced with such abundance, choosing is no easy task. Their best idea is also their simplest: taste first, buy later! · Dr. Panza

The hidden gem: The house pistachio butter (€7.50 per 100 g), intensely nutty, wonderfully fragrant and equally at home on the breakfast table or in dessert.