Atahan Yersel and Emre Palancı’s new chocolatier Mendel’s places emphasis on freshness. Yersel believes that, despite the long shelf life of chocolate, it simply tastes better the day it is produced. “You can even smell the difference,” he says. Mendel’s uses Callebaut brand ingredients imported from Belgium and blends them with familiar ingredients like hazelnuts, pistachios and strawberries. You’ll also find unusual ingredients like watermelon and tahini (our favorite).
In addition to all the chocolates lined up in the display case, Mendel’s also offers a menu of chocolate desserts. The most popular treats are the chocolate cups that include fruits, whipped cream and angel food cake (13-14 TL) and the sizzling brownie, which comes in a crock with a goat’s milk ice cream from Erzurum and drizzled hot chocolate. If you’re on the prowl for a treat that would make a highly likeable Instagram post, we recommend going for surprising desserts like the gece sefası, which reveals macaroons the minute you pour hot chocolate on top.