070 Sinan Camozu of Sultan Döner Kebab and Baklava

(01:08) As we step into Sultan Döner Kebab and Baklava on 6th Street in downtown Pittsburgh, owner Sinan Camozu moves with practiced precision as he operates a specialized machine imported from Turkey—one of a kind in our region. From it emerges impossibly thin sheets of phyllo dough, translucent enough to see your hand through, destined to become his extraordinary baklava.

(07:43) "Nobody does this other than us," Sinan explains with justified pride. While most restaurants use frozen phyllo, Sinan creates his from scratch in a temperature and humidity-controlled room. The results yield pastries with a remarkable puffiness and delicacy that simply can't be achieved with mass-produced ingredients. The vividly green pistachios nestled within come directly from his wife Fatma's family farm in Turkey, where they tend hundreds of trees.

A commitment to authenticity extends throughout the menu. The restaurant's namesake döner (meaning "spinning" in Turkish) features house-marinated meats being stacked and slow-roasted on vertical spits. Even the pita bread receives special attention, baked fresh twice daily rather than just once in the morning.

Sinan came to America in 2009 simply to improve his English. "I wanted to explain my foods when I'm cooking to my guests," he shares. What was meant to be a one-year stay evolved into a permanent move and, eventually, the realization of an entrepreneurial dream—opening during the challenging days of the pandemic.

Now, with a growing reputation among downtown diners, cultural trust visitors, and sports fans crossing the Clemente Bridge, Sinan has his sights set on expansion. His goal? Selling his handcrafted baklava across the United States. 

(31:24) Later in the episode, Catherine Montest recommends Albarino as the perfect summer wine for picnics and porch sipping, and Rick Sebak shares his special cowboy cookie recipe featuring ancient grains from Weatherberry Farm. Bring your appetite. 

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