Then coffee was served and people would engage in extended conversation.

RAMAZAN MEALS
Special care and artistic creativity went into preparing the evening dinner tables of Ramazan. It is said that there were such famous dinner tables that even Sultan Mahmud looked forward to participating.
Chief religious officer of the period, Dürrizade Efendi's interest in gastronomy was famous. All the statesmen wished for invitations to his pompously laid dinner tables. Although Sultan Mahmud was keen on dining at those tables, he, as a sultan could not get himself to request an invitation. One day he went out in the imperial carriage to wander around the city and, while passing in front of Dürrizade Efendi's mansion, he stopped and got off. The chief religious officer came out and invited him in to honour his home. He sat down to a table as rich as any that could be seen in the palace. Delicious food was served, the rice on a gold plate but the fruit compote in a glass bowl.