By Barbara Pasquet James

Exotic. Sensual. Mysterious. There are as many adjectives to describe Istanbul, the ancient Ottoman city straddling the Bosphorus, as there are stalls lining its bustling bazaars, or pomegranate juice vendors on seemingly every corner. And so the prospect of a Full Moon New Year’s Party combined with a hunt for delectable spices, nuts and loukoums - the infamously addicting “Turkish Delight” - to replenish my Paris larder, proved irresistible.

To the haunting wail of the müezzin calling the faithful to evening prayer, we headed over to what is referred to as “the Asian side” of this truly geographic carrefour between Europe and the Middle East. Istanbul’s renowned spice market, known as the Egyptian Spice Bazaar or “Misir Carsisi,” was easy enough to find. Set against an ethereal backdrop of imposing mosques and palaces that crown the horizon, its entrance is on a large square facing the ferry dock right on the Golden Horn.