New Bellingham cafe offers baklava, Turkish delight and Turkish coffee
A new cafe in downtown Bellingham is quickly getting a following for its Turkish-style menu and small marketplace.
Kristofer Konutgan and his brother, Lukas, opened Ashuri Baklava & Cafe at 103 Grand Ave. near the Mount Bakery on Saturday, Oct. 2.
Along with baklava, the cafe has a varied menu that is expected to expand soon, said Kristofer Konutgan in an interview. Items currently on the menu include Turkish delight and Turkish coffee.
One drink that is already popular is menengic coffee, which is known as a pistachio coffee that actually isn’t coffee nor does it have pistachios. It is made from a berry of a tree grown in the Kurdish region related to pistachios that has a nutty, earthy and creamy flavor, Konutgan said.
The cafe’s small marketplace area includes carpets, bracelet wraps, coffee pots, cups, tea classes and lamps. The items are imported from Turkey.
The Konutgans both grew up in Turkey and have been involved in the hospitality industry. Kristofer Konutgan worked in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul and wants to bring that kind of product and hospitality experience into this cafe.
Like many things during the COVID-19 pandemic, getting Ashuri open had its challenges, including bringing in the products from Turkey. Delays are still an issue, but they’ve been able to get the cafe mostly stocked with the things they need.
Another challenge with the pandemic is the impact it has on this style of cafe, Kristofer Konutgan said. Part of the attraction to Turkish coffee is the social component, how it brings people together. For now, the cafe is doing its part with very limited indoor seating and sticking with the current guidance about social distancing and wearing masks.
The cafe also brings another option for those looking for a place to hang out in the evenings. Open every day 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Kristofer Konutgan said they want to keep those evening hours because they recognize it can be hard to find after-dinner coffee in Bellingham.
The Ashuri name has deep ties to the Middle East region and the Assyrian culture. The cafe’s logo is a Babylonian dragon; the heritage and history of the area is something Kristofer Konutgan is happy to talk about with customers.
“Talking and sharing stories... that’s our job,” Kristofer Konutgan said, noting that it might come as a surprise to customers used to self-service trends happening in businesses these days.
Further details about the Ashuri cafe can be found on Instagram.
This story was originally published October 9, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
