Baklava, a sweet, crunchy, paper-thin delight, has been in existence for decades and one of the most renowned owners of the best baklava bakery is the Güllüoglu family. They have been making some of the most delicious baklava bites for 68 years. Currently, their bakery Karaköy Güllüoglu is run by the fifth generation of the family. Nadir Güllüoglu is currently rolling the production line at their bakery, and now you can have a delightful dining experience at the Shangri-La Bosphorus.

The Team

The baking history of Güllüoglu began in Gaza. This is where three generations of the family continued serving these treats to the world. Later, Nadin Güllüoglu’s grandfather decided to leave Gaza and shifted his small bakery to Istanbul. When Nadin had the opportunity to do something different, he decided to continue with the family legacy. Today, the bakery is big in business. Every day, they start the production line at 4:00 a.m. and by the end of the day, bake around two tons of baklava for the guests. 80 chefs, along with the Güllüoglu family, put their heart and soul into perfecting every bite of 40 layers of filo just so that the world doesn’t miss out on this magical, airy sweet.

How Do They Make the Perfect Flaky Bite?

Well, layers of filo pastry, pistachios, and butter are put together to make this marvelous Turkish dessert. The process starts by rolling the filo pastry dough as thin as possible to get those beautiful layers. After that, fresh, green pistachios are spread all over the sheets to add the perfect amount of crunch and color. Once that is done, the raw baklavas are put inside the oven and are raised to perfection. To finish off the sweets, they are cut into the perfect bite-size when they are hot. You know they are baked just right when you hear the “cush” when the knife goes through them.

Be a Part of the Experience

If you wish to have first-hand experience and try baking baklava for yourself in the kitchen of Güllüoglu’s bakery, they have made it possible for the Shangri-La guests. You can now book a two-hour tour of the bakery for yourself on any weekday. The bakery will even provide you with a pick-up and drop-off service from the hotel. Once you are here, you can be a part of their workshop and go through each step of baking the perfect bite for yourself. In the end, you can buy yourself as many boxes as you like and also taste the freshly-baked baklava back at the hotel accompanied by Turkish tea served by the baklava butler of the hotel.

Late conservationist Steve Irwin has undoubtedly left a deep impact in the hearts of animal lovers worldwide. Now, to honor his legacy, the Irwin family has recently opened a luxury lodge at the Australia Zoo. The Crocodile Hunter Lodge opened on June 22 this year to welcome guests from across the globe and offers luxurious stays amidst incredible wildlife.

The Vision

According to Luke Reavley, the longtime Irwin family confidante and general manager of the lodge, Steve Irwin always wanted to provide people with an experience of a unique stay where they can fully appreciate the country’s beautiful wildlife. This newly opened lodge turns that very idea into reality with its distinct accommodations, and provides the exclusive experience of co-living with nature and wildlife!

The Property

Celebrating the legacy of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter Lodge is located in Beerwah of Queensland, just south of the Irwin family’s Australia Zoo near the Glass House Mountains. The property features a two-room zoo-accessible cabin, eight main family cabins, an in-house restaurant, and an 82-foot-long infinity pool named The Billabong. The area of the zoo cabin is the natural habitat for koalas, emus, echidnas, and of course, kangaroos. It also includes a new home for the southern koalas of the zoo, who were victims of the devastating 2020 bushfires.

The Special Touches

The members of the Irwin family all added their individual special touches to the property. Steve Irwin’s daughter Bindi, 23, came up with the name Warrior for the restaurant, paying homage to the phrase Wildlife Warrior coined by Steve. His son Robert, 18, photographed two crocodiles from the Australia Zoo and printed them onto the tiles of the pool, making it extra special and a bit unnerving too! For Terri, Steve Irwin’s widow, this site is extra-significant. The front doors and the check-in desk are made of recycled timber from the very original Crocodile Environmental Park, built by Steve himself and the spot where the Irwin couple first met back in 1991.

The Services

The property will welcome its guests with a welcome gift and free breakfast. Unlimited entry to the Australia Zoo with shuttle services, entry to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, and exclusive use of the wildlife-spotting infinity pool — all are included in the service. Additionally, The Warrior Restaurant and Bar offers seasonal delicacies. There is also a gift shop, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour concierge to deliver an unforgettable experience to the guests.