EZGİ GÜVEN / AYNA
- Apr 28
- 1 min read
Ayna is a food and dining place in Cunda, Ayvalık, that has been around for 20 years.
Ezgi Güven and her mother, Nihal Sayın, have been running it in the same consistent way for years.
In a country and a world that are this turbulent, this kind of continuity alone is something truly worth respect.
Ayna has come to today without ever losing its own rhythm, even as the island changed over time.
A simple yet strong world, where everything is carefully chosen.
In its kitchen, there is a way of making that follows local ingredients and the rhythm of the seasons.
A way of thinking that recognizes the value of what truly matters and leaves out what is unnecessary.
This is where the spirit of the place comes from pureness, simplicity, and continuity.
They work with a team made up mostly of women.
It is a structure where producing together and carrying things together is visible.
Despite the changing times of Cunda, they have remained here by staying true to their own path.
Ezgi grew up within this story.
The place she built with her mother is not just a business for her; it is a life she was raised in, learned from, and became part of.
Ezgi also has a published book called “40 Days 40 Artichokes,” centered on the artichoke, one of Cunda’s symbols.
Approaching the artichoke not just as a product but as a form of island memory, the book adds another layer to Ezgi’s world.
