Q & A With Turks & Frogs' Osman Cakir

Osman Cakir had no intentions of becoming a restaurateur.  He began his career as an antique collector. One day, he decided to transform his West Village shop into what maybe believe was New York’s first wine bar, Turks & Frogs.  Cakir designed every inch of the Turks and Frogs in the West Village and Tribeca, as well as the interior of his newly opened cocktail bar, Orient Express.  This gorgeous spot in the West Village, outfitted with bronze luggage racks and wood paneling, is modeled
after the European train of the same name.

Cakir is currently developing a Turks & Frogs wine label, made with Turkish grapes, of course. He’s so passionate about bringing good Turkish wine to American that he calls it “a cultural mission.”  Until his wines debut, you can sample Turkish wines or cocktails called, The Sleeping Car, From Russia with Love or the Bartender’s Choice at the newly minted Orient Express.

Single/Married/Divorced
Married

What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a little kid I wanted to be a captain on commercial ships.  I didn’t become a professional captain, but I do sail my boat during summer months.

Did you cook with your family growing up?
Yes, I started cooking with my family when I was 12 years old.

What gave you the idea to transform your West Village antiques shop into the wine bar Turks & Frogs?
I thought it would have been a great idea to introduce wine into my antiques shop concept.  I think antiques and wine complement each other. At least they both appreciate as they age.

Are any of the Turkish dishes at your three establishments based on family recipes?
Most of the appetizers and a good portion of the main courses have been part of our family’s food culture, which of course, belongs to Turkish cuisine.

What Turkish wines would you recommend to us this year?
I happen to be in Turkey as I’m answering this question.  So, I have been tasting a lot of delicious Turkish wine and it’s unfortunate that most of these wines are not available in the U.S. market.  However, I highly recommend Anatolian wines that are made of Okuzgozu, Bogazkere and Kalecik Karasi grapes.  These grapes have been used on this fertile soil of Anatolia to make wine for thousands of years and it is a great pleasure for me to serve these wines at my places.  It’s a great feeling to be a bridge between cultures.  

How involved are you with the design of your restaurants, given your experience in antiques?
I’m very involved in the design my places.  Every square inch of my bars was designed by me. Of course, my background in antiques helps me create these concepts.  Also, growing up in Istanbul and being exposed to many different cultures naturally helps me design unique places.  

Why did you decide to name your latest cocktail bar after the iconic European train, the Orient Express?
I grew up listening to many intriguing stories about the Orient Express and there were many espionage and suspense movies that were filmed on the Orient Express during my childhood.  As you know Istanbul was the last stop and I felt a childish, but special, connection with the Orient Express.  I wanted to combine a prohibition-style cocktail bar concept with the Orient Express idea since they both belong to the same time period.  I believe that when you create time capsules in hospitality, design elements of that era are extremely relevant if you want to please your customers.

What’s your go-to cocktail on Orient Express’ menu?
I enjoy all our cocktails. However, “From Russia With Love” is great if you are in the mood for vodka.

Many of your drinks are inspired by true people and events in history, like B2C2, whose recipe dates back to German soldiers in WWII. How did you come to collect these stories and incorporate them into your drink menu?
I’ve been passionate about the history since I was young and all these elements, including cocktail names, are part of my design method.  I study and do my research before putting all these elements together in certain harmony.  

How have your regular Turks & Frogs customers responded to Orient Express?
The Turks & Frogs team and I treat our regulars as our extended family.  It’s very comforting to see our regulars in Orient Express sipping their cocktails and enjoying the ride.

Can you suggest any drink-food pairings at Orient Express?
All our appetizers are great to munch on with cocktails.  However, I really enjoy the goat cheese rollatini and the Turkish pastirma with the St. Polten cocktail.

Other than your own bars, where do you like to go for drinks in New York City?
When I have time to go out, I go to Pierre Loti wine bar on Irving Place.

Any other plans on the horizon?
I am working on getting involved in wine making under the Turks & Frogs label.  I feel that wine lovers in America deserve to taste more Turkish wines made from indigenous Turkish grapes.  This is more a of a cultural mission than a professional goal to me.

Orient Express
Address: 325 W. 11th St. bet. Greenwich and Washington Streets
Phone: (212) 691-8845