During the second edition of Turkish Cuisine Week, emphasis will be placed on the regional cuisine of Hatay, recognised as the “26th Gastronomy City of the World” by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The Turkish Cuisine Week will also highlight sustainable and zero-waste production practices in Turkish food culture.
Turkish Cuisine Week
Turkish Cuisine Week is coordinated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. Türkiye’s diplomatic missions worldwide organised various activities and social media campaigns to promote the distinctive flavors of Hatay cuisine.
This year’s Turkish Cuisine Week worldwide events feature a unique menu dedicated to the flavours of Hatay cuisine. Hatay, part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy, is one of the Turkish cities that draws notice for its distinctive cuisine. Hatay cuisine combines high-quality olive oil and grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, native herbs, and spices cultivated on fertile soils dominated by the Mediterranean climate.
In Malaysia, Turkish Cuisine Week kick-started by an exclusive dinner hosted by the Ambassador of Türkiye to Kuala Lumpur, His Excellency (H.E.) Emir Salim Yüksel followed by an online activity featuring Chef Maximilian J. W. Thomae and a Turkish Cuisine demonstration workshop featuring kısır (fine bulgur salad) and Sini Kebabı/Tepsi Kebabı to 29 students of Le Cordon Bleu Malaysia.
Türkiye Embassy in Malaysia Kick-Started the Turkish Cuisine Week
As part of Turkish Cuisine Week, the Ambassador of Türkiye to Kuala Lumpur, H.E Emir Salim Yüksel organised an exclusive dinner to introduce this year’s special menu consisting of local dishes from the cuisine of Hatay.
“Through the week-long Turkish Cuisine Week, the healthy, traditional, waste-free and sustainable nature of the deep-rooted Turkish cuisine is promoted on an international scale. Türkiye is among the top five countries with the most intangible heritage values inscribed on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Among these, we also have traditional recipes from Turkish cuisine, such as flatbread, as well as keşkek, a Turkish dish with meat and wheat; and mesir paste, consisting of 41 herbs and spices. Turkish coffee is also part of the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, symbolising not only a special brewing technique but also a rich communal traditional culture and history,” said H.E Emir Salim Yüksel, Ambassador of Türkiye to Kuala Lumpur.
Ambassador of Türkiye to Kuala Lumpur, H.E Emir Salim Yüksel welcoming his guests at his official residence.
H.E Emir Salim Yüksel added, “Cultural heritage does not only refer to monuments and artifacts; it actually goes way beyond with customs, rituals, skills and recipes that we inherit from our ancestors and pass on to our descendants, as defined by UNESCO. The dishes that we prepared for you today are from the city of Hatay, one of the cities in the gastronomy field of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.”
Read More: “Learning at Work Week”
During the dinner, participants also watched a demonstration of the preparation of “stuffed grape leaves with meat” and kısır by renowned Turkish chef, Chef Turgay Gündodu and were served the Hatay menu, including biberli ekmek (flatbread with red pepper paste), olive salad, hummus, kısır and “kunefe” (kadayıf dessert with cheese).
Ancient, Sustainable, Zero-Waste, Healthy and Timeless Traditions of Turkish Cuisine
A live online cooking demonstration by Chef Maximilian J. W. Thomae utilising regional products and traditional cooking methods provided attendees of the Turkish food Week event with a comprehensive overview of traditional and sustainable Turkish food.
Read More: Havoc Street Food Fest 2023
The live streaming was viewed by invited participants and they had the opportunity to learn about the rich biodiversity of Turkish cuisine and its readiness and potential to respond to various eating and drinking trends Participants experienced a hands-on approach to Turkish cuisine’s cooking methodology, which was based on a sustainable and zero-waste approach.
Healthy and timeless recipes united participants around Turkish eating and drinking rituals, which were structured around feelings of unity, togetherness, and cultural sustainability.
Hatay a Table of Civilisations
As part of spreading the city’s culinary heritage, which has hosted many different civilisations throughout history, Chef Turgay Gündodu also held a demonstration class for 29 culinary students of Le Cordon Bleu Malaysia. During the demonstration, the students had the opportunity to have hands-on experience with kısır and Sini Kebabı/Tepsi Kebabı.
For more information please visit the website at turkishcuisineweek.com/homepage