Growing up in Spain with a Turkish background, coming across authentic food has always been a challenge and so, after moving to London and indulging in the plethora of restaurants I’ve felt quite reconnected with my family back home. Don’t get me wrong, I could have manti every single day but I could also only take so many trips to Turkish restaurants without getting tired, or so I thought.
Walking around Peckham post-carboot sale in search of something to eat, I found my eyes darting in the direction of “Jurkish” and not precisely because of its incredible interior but because of the daring fusion it had to offer. A Jamaican flag stood right next to the Turkish one at the entrance to it, a combination I had never heard or seen before anywhere. As it turns out, Naz, the owner, comes from a Jamaican Turkish Cypriot background and was inspired by her heritage to blend the Caribbean and Middle Eastern flavours she grew up with.
As you walk in you are greeted by a spacious, high-ceiling space featuring a tall wall decked out with LPs and record players blasting reggae tunes, perfect for an aesthetic social media post. A large disco ball hanging from the ceiling, flowers on each table, a wide seating arrangement and sofas in the corner to lounge around in make up the space, definitely great feng shui. The open bar seating and slightly visible kitchen offer a peep into the love and craft that goes behind each dish and cocktail.
Getting into the food, we had the giant pepper prawns, saltfish badadez kofte and a jurk roast chicken with plenty to go around and decent prices, totalling £40 so £20 per person including leftovers. My go-to from that order would no doubt be the saltfish badadez kofte where fried salted cod cake is seasoned to perfection and served with a fragrant and herby jurk garlic sauce, a true masterclass in fusion food. While the prawns left more to be desired, the chicken roast served with fluffy Jurkish rice, potatoes, buttered greens, Yorkshire pudding, spiced carrots, Magarina pie, caramelised onions, and gravy did not disappoint and was generous in size. A definite must-try in Peckham and a fusion I look forward to seeing again.
Kaan Korukcu
Address: Jumbi, 133 Copeland Rd, London SE15 3SN