Friends who met while working at Apple open new restaurant in Cork 

Ali Fincan and Halit Aker have plenty in common. Hailing from the same part of Turkey, they both moved to Cork and have become great friends.

Now they have set up in business together after opening Lumi, a breakfast, brunch, and lunch venue in a flowery, charming lane in Townspark, Midleton.

The duo are now soulmates and workmates – “we are the best of friends!” says Ali.

Their friendship and business is not all they have in common – both men also did their Masters when they moved to Cork initially to work at Apple, and both are raising young families with their wives near Glanmire.

The opening of Lumi is the icing on the cake.

“Our first week open was just magical,” says Ali, who is delighted to see people out early when I visit, basking in the sunshine, and perusing the Morning Light Breakfast menu.

“We got a great welcome here from our neighbours along the street, and a great reaction from our customers also.

“Already, our customers are coming back again and again to sample more food from our menu. It’s all good.”

Apart from a Turkish flavour or two on offer, like Turkish eggs, the Philippine/American chef, Pierre, is adding some bite to the extensive menu.

“Pierre is a fan of Jim Cowley’s top-class cuts of meat,” says Ali. He is also a fan of locally sourced fresh produce.

His ‘Butcher’, slow braised beef served with two East Ferry free-range poached eggs, wilted spinach, and home-made brown butter hollandaise, finished with crispy onions, chives and micro-herbs, will set you up for the day.

You can also enjoy a cold beer, a crisp wine, or a locally crafted cider with your meal.

What are Turkish eggs?

“Softly poached eggs served over garlicky Greek yogurt, then drizzled with warm smoky chilli-spiced butter,” explains Ali, describing the chef’s piéce de resistance.

AT YOUR SERVICE: Halit Aker inside Lumi Café in Midleton. Picture: Chani Anderson

The ladies sitting in the sunshine beside me are tucking into a Garden Plate and Breakfast Bap.

“I am gluten-free,” says Eileen. “Often, it can be tricky to find any varied options for breakfast apart from the usual, full-Irish, porridge, scrambled eggs, for instance. Breakfast is very ‘samey’ in most places.

“This is a fabulous spot, offering loads of variety and different flavours.”

Her companion, Brenda, agrees. Things are sunny-side up under the candy-striped canopy shielding the midday sun.

“It’s so refreshing to see every taste catered for on the Lumi menu. This is a great addition to Midleton,” adds Brenda.

And friends Ali and Halit are a great addition to Midleton.

“I came here to Ireland eight years ago to study,” says Ali, from Istanbul. “I did my Masters in international business management in Trinity College Dublin.

“When I graduated, I was offered a job with Apple in Cork. Apple was the place to be and I found Cork to be way better for me.”

How?

“Istanbul’s population is approximately 15.8 million residents,” says Ali. “I like peaceful, quieter places better.

“Dublin life is very fast-paced. It a is more cosmopolitan city. In Cork, people are friendly. They make you feel like a local!”

Has he copped the Cork lingo and slang?

“I am speaking the slang now!” says Ali laughing.

Just like a local?

“Just like a local,” he says.

Even though Ali and Halit are both from the same place in Turkey, their paths didn’t cross until they met at Apple in Cork.

“Halit studied business and operations analytics in MTU,” says Ali. “We met at work at Apple and became friends, discovering we are both from the same place.”

They both harboured the same ambition. To alleviate the humdrum of a nine-to-five job and look to mentally reset and reboot with a change of lifestyle.

Halit Aker is pictured inside Lumi Café, the new café in Townspark, Midleton. Picture: Chani Anderson

“I worked eight-hour shifts day in, day out,” says Ali. “When I got home after work, I was always mentally tired. I didn’t feel fresh in any way. I decided to quit.”

Halit decided to quit too.

“His father-in-law owned a very famous bakery/deli back home,” says Ali. “Halit had often worked there in his summer holidays, and he had experience working in restaurants.

“We decided to quit our jobs in Apple and opened a small café in Ballyphehane, Tory’s Café, doing breakfast and lunch. It was a great success.”

Tory’s proved so popular with Corkonians that the two friends decided to branch out and open a similar, more ambitious outlet in Midleton.

“Halit was on the look-out for another place,” says Ali. “By now we both had a baby each and we had a business together!”

The logistics had to be balanced then?

“We work very well together,” says Ali. “Our wives are very supportive.”

They all went for dinner in Midleton before the business moved there.

“We came here for dinner when it was Roastie’s,” says Ali. “The vibe felt good, the atmosphere was nice. Midleton is nice. My daughter, Alice, avails of childcare here in Midleton. There was an opportunity for us to lease the premises. Then we did!

“We never expected so many people to come here to eat the first days we opened,” says Ali. “We were so excited, the first day was really busy.”

AT YOUR SERVICE: Halit Aker inside Lumi Café in Midleton. Picture: Chani Anderson

Not a mundane nine-to five day?

“Absolutely not!” says Ali. “Each day is like a celebration. People are drinking coffee and beer outside in the sunshine. The fitness people are coming after class, or from a run for their protein breakfast. They say we have brought a new dimension to Midleton.”

How many staff work in this vibrant, lively, full-of beans café?

“There are four staff in the kitchen and nine staff employed all together,” says Ali. “Halit and I both have good management skills. We all got off to a good start. Things can only get better.”

Halit agrees.

“I came to Cork with my wife, who is an engineer, to language school,” he says. “Then I went on to study at MTU. I had a good job in Apple but the work could be boring and repetitive.

Ali Fincan is pictured beside a wall of historic photographs celebrating Midleton’s past inside Lumi Café in Townspark, Midleton. Picture: Chani Anderson

“Here, the variety is great and every day is different. Meeting new people and making new friends every day is very rewarding.

“Seeing people smile is rewarding. When they go away happy and then come back happy, it is fantastic.”

Halit speaks the lingo too.

“After nine years, I know the Cork slang well,” he says.

“Ali and I, we live parallel lives. Now our working lives are parallel too. We are enjoying the whole experience.”

Ali goes about his work joyously, humming a tune as he meets and greets eager diners and asks, ‘how are you today?’

What is the familiar tune he is humming? It’s definitely not ‘nine to five’!

Lumi, Townspark, Midleton. Open for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, Wednesday to Saturday.