Article updated: Here is what quite a few of you have been waiting for.  The Kalkan Turkish Local News 'What's new in Kalkan for 2011' report - part 1.

It's a long list.  In this first article we confine ourselves to restaurants, bars and other eating places.

Further 'What's new' articles will follow.  If you think we have missed anything, or if you have any other information we can use, please drop us a line.

Before we dive into the food and drink changes, we would like to mention that we have reset the star ratings in our Business Directory, in time for the new season.  Any Kalkan business that received more than 1 vote last year, will have a rating for 2010.

Now that the star ratings have been cleared, you can start again, and rate any businesses you use in 2011.  These star ratings are helpful for potential customers, so please take a minute to let us know what you think of the businesses you use.

Food & Drink
Ali Baba's lokanta, just up from the PTT, is currently being refurbished. It has been closed for some time, but should be open again quite soon.

Chillies: At the end of last season, they moved from Kalamar Road to a place between NEED Furniture and the Lounge Bar, just off Kalamar Road.

Çinar Bar: Tekin has done quite a bit of work this winter, at the Yalıhan complex. The bar has moved closer to Deniz Bank, and in sesaon, there will be more tables and chairs out in the central courtyard. Part of the old bar area has been converted into the Çinar Leather shop, which we believe is run by Tekin's wife.

Coast at Gironda: Please concentrate on this one! Last year, we had the Coast at Gironda restaurant operating in the town centre, opposite Kalamaki restaurant. This year, the premises will be home to a new restaurant, with a familiar name - Gironda. It will be run by Volkan 'Jimmy' Aladağ, who last year, was working at the Likya Hotel restaurant. He will continue to run the KTLN Old Town webcam.

The previous owners of the Coast at Gironda, started Lush restaurant, down by the harbour, last year. This year, they will concentrate solely on this harbour restaurant, which will be renamed simply as Coast.

Dunya Ice Cream is on the move again. It is moving out of its spot near to Sandal restaurant, to a new location. We are awaiting confirmation, but we think it may be somewhere in the town centre.

Extinct restaurant is no longer Extinct, as it has become - well, extinct. In its place is Rose restaurant, which will be serving a mixture of eastern Turkish food, alongside more western cuisine. It is located next door to Oz Adana.

Ibo restaurant is under new ownership this season. Şakir, the chef from the old Coast at Gironda restaurant, is moving about 25 metres, to take over running the Ibo restaurant. We are not sure whether he will choose to have a new name. If it changes, we will let you know.

Kalkan Catering: This is a new catering service for 2011, from Nilgun Mihyaz, which will provide a home delivery service to local villas and apartments. The business, specialising in Turkish cuisine, is not quite up and running yet, but we will let you know when their website is ready to view.

Please note that there is an existing business called Kalkan Catering Services, which was established last year.  The two are not connected.

We are informed that the old Pasha Bar, opposite Belgin's Kitchen, is to be reopened as the Kalkan Virgin Cafe, (as it is the first time the owners have set up a business in Kalkan).  They will serve Mediterranean cuisine, and also sell local art.

Kaptan restaurant has changed its name to Kaptan BBQ restaurant, to reflect a change in emphasis on its menu for 2011. Owner Ali Özturk, will be sharing his time, between this restaurant, and Kaptan Wine & Tapas, on Kalamar Road, which is already open for business, (complete with wood burning stove for those cool winter/spring evenings).

Korsan: It's all change for the Korsan group this year. The Korsan Meze restaurant on the harbour, opposite Fener Cafe Bar, has moved to the spot where Korsan Kebab was, (now closed). The business is below the Korsan Fish Terrace, which continues as before. To discover what you will find in place of the old Korsan Meze, read on.

Mussakka: It's all change for Mehmet at Mussakka too, this year. The Mussakka restaurant, opposite Abi Travel, on Hasan Altan Caddesi, is to get a brand new menu, and is to be rebranded as Mussakka Brasserie. It will be opening in March. Meanwhile, Mehmet is taking the Mussakka menu down to the harbour, where he is taking over the spot left behind by Korsan Meze. This one opens in April.

Rendezvous restaurant, on Hasan Altan Caddesi, is no more. There is some significant refurbishment going on there at the moment, including the ground floor unit, formerly occupied by Nural Seramik shop.

Rosehip restaurant: This will be a new eatery, being fronted by Mecit Cosar, (aka Orlando Bloom).  It has a central location, just up the hill from Fez restaurant, and has a rooftop terrace, complete with sea view. 

Salt and Pepper restaurant: This restaurant, overlooking the harbour, is under new management. Nihat and Ibo were working there as waiters last year, but now they are running the place. Also on board, is the chef who used to work at Kaptan restaurant. The guys are busy getting ready for an April opening.

Sultan Çorba & Kebab, is a new lokanta that has opened where Tomato restaurant used to be (right next to the PTT). It is open now, and in the main tourist season, it will be open 24 hours a day.

White Table, is a new cafe bistro that is opening next to the Culture House, and opposite Salt and Pepper restaurant. In fact it's not just the tables that will be white - the whole interior is set to have a white theme. White Table plans to have a mini deli-shop, where customers will be able to buy, amongst other things, pork products. Customers will be able to choose their desired product from the deli and the chef will cook it for them.

We hear that the Yacht Point Bar is under new management. The new owners are giving the place a bit of a revamp. That's all we have on this.

The Yaz Cafe Bar on Kalamar Road is closed, and there is a For Rent sign on the door.

Aci Muhendislik Hizmetleri, the small electrical shop between the Corner Restaurant and Kalkan Kirtasiye stationers, has closed. It is set to become a new cafe/lokanta, serving pides and kebabs. We don't have a name yet.

A new cafe is opening close to Cafe Vita. We don't have a name for this one either.

And finally, we can reveal that one of the businesses mentioned in this article is going to be hosting the next KTLN webcam.  I wonder where it will be?

Watch out for more 'What's new' articles
That's about it for food and drink, for now.  More 'What's new' articles are coming soon, including details of changes to holiday companies operating in Kalkan.

Don't forget to drop us a line, if you think there is something we should know,  for our future 'What's new' reports.