My girlfriends and I had our share of adventures during a week in Istanbul. There was the time I almost got left behind at a bus stop somewhere outside the city, and the many times we fended off catcalls from Turkish guys, as I blogged about earlier.

One afternoon we took a break from the mosques and bazaars to try the dessert restaurant Özsüt in Sultanahmet, which reportedly has the best rice pudding in the city. I was immediately overwhelmed by the menu—a dozen pages filled with pictures of mouthwatering pastries, cakes, puddings, and ice cream.

Our waiter told us some of the delicacies were finished, meaning not available, but there was still plenty to choose from. I finally settled on the çikolata framuaz, a decadent cake with layers of chocolate and raspberry mousses.

I didn't realize until I got home that Özsüt was a chain—there are 40 locations in Istanbul alone, according to the website. Even so, I feel like I've discovered a secret I should pass on to anyone planning a visit to Istanbul. —Liz Webber

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