Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy attended the Balıkesir Gastronomy Festival organized as part of the "Turkish Cuisine Week" promotion program in Edremit district with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's wife Emine Erdoğan.
In his speech here, Minister Ersoy said that as tourism is one of the main gears of the economy, gastronomy is one of the most important parts of the functioning of tourism. Stating that the Turkish Cuisine Week, which was held for the first time this year under the auspices of the Presidency, will be celebrated both in Turkey and in foreign representations until May 27, Ersoy said, “Anatolia's fertile soil, climate diversity, and therefore, all kinds of nutrition, brought to life by the richness of flora and fauna. He emphasized that they will introduce Turkish cuisine and flavor heritage that can appeal to the habits of the people.
Explaining that world-renowned Turkish chefs will prepare special menus for the Turkish Cuisine Week, Ersoy continued as follows:
“These menus, which bring traditional Turkish tastes to the world stage with creative and original presentations, will be offered to the visitors at the receptions held in Turkey's overseas representations. In this way, we will ensure that gastro-tourists focus on Turkey and put our country at the top of the list in their travel preferences. In addition to all these, distinguished examples of our cuisine will be served at events to be held in our country. On the occasion of the Turkish Cuisine Week, large audiences will be informed about the quality ingredients of our kitchen, its essentially waste-free, sustainability, compliance with world nutrition trends and its culture spanning over millennia. We will not only refresh our own memory and knowledge about our culinary culture, but also take a place in the memory of the international community.”
The richness of Balıkesir cuisine
Ersoy stated that the opening of the Turkish Cuisine Week in Edremit Güre with the Balıkesir Gastronomy Festival is important in terms of showing the point the country has reached in gastronomy awareness. Ersoy stated that being aware of the richness of each region and city, making an effort to embrace, sustain and promote it is the basic awareness and main goal they want to bring to the country in culture and tourism, and made the following assessments:
“This is the history and roots of the city, which stands out in many titles with its healthy products grown in its fertile geography. That is why the district of Ayvalık, with its historical oil mills and soap shops, has taken its place in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List under the title of 'Industrial Heritage'. The EDEN European Distinguished Destination City of Health and Wellbeing Award, which he won in 2019, has clearly shown to everyone that Balıkesir does not break away from its roots, that it preserves its historical heritage and carries it forward. Balıkesir is increasing its visibility and popularity in gastronomy day by day. The awards that Ayvalık, Edremit and North Aegean olive oils with geographical indications receive in international competitions are very valuable in terms of showing the level our city has reached. Of course, that's not all. Edremit green scratched olives, Balıkesir lamb, Susurluk toast and buttermilk, Kapıdağ purple onion, Balıkesir höşmerim dessert are products that also have geographical indications. sözcüthey are doing their thing.”
The goal of positioning Istanbul as a “gastrocity”
Pointing out that gastronomy occupies an important place among alternative tourism types in the world, Ersoy said, “As the Ministry, we have done and are doing a lot of work in order to introduce our rich eating and drinking culture to the world. In this context, we wrote our latest success story by ensuring that Istanbul is included in the world's most prestigious restaurant rating system, the Michelin Guide. Michelin will announce the selection specially prepared for Istanbul with a ceremony held on October 11, 2022. I also underline the fact that we completed this process, which normally takes an average of 6 years, in 2 years with the difference created by TGA. I believe that the Michelin Guide will have a significant impact on our goal of positioning Istanbul as a 'gastrocity'.” used the phrases.
Ersoy said that after Istanbul, destinations such as Bodrum, İzmir and Çeşme are candidates for achieving the same success.
Noting that Turkey has 1104 gastronomy products registered with geographical indications by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, Ersoy continued his words as follows:
“Gaziantep, Hatay and Afyonkarahisar provinces are also included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy. On the other hand, our new generation Turkish chefs continue to create unique flavors by interpreting the heart-breaking flavors of Anatolia with different techniques in fine-dining restaurants. All these are important headlines that show the point we have reached in gastronomy, but we cannot ignore the necessity of preserving the knowledge and experience we have, as in almost every field. Because it is important to know, but it is much more important to record and preserve the information and to make it possible to pass it on for generations. Unprotected knowledge fades away like a fleeting thought.”
Noting that the book "Turkish Cuisine with Centennial Recipes", which was prepared under the auspices of the Presidency under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan and published in October 2021, is a serious service in this field of gastronomy studies, Ersoy said, "This work, which includes 4 recipes, brought together with the contributions of 14 consultants and 218 chefs, is an ownership. It is a note for the present and the future regarding the richest cuisine and the most ancient culture of the world. Hopefully more will be added to it. I would like to express my gratitude to Ms. Emine Erdogan. I would like to express once again that as the Ministry, we will always support such works that serve our national culture.” he said.
Balıkesir Governor Hasan Şıldak, on the other hand, stated that the city, which has long coasts in Marmara and Aegean, has taken important steps in the field of gastronomy and emphasized that it is extremely important to organize this festival in Balıkesir.
Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yücel Yılmaz explained the richness of Balıkesir cuisine and noted that the region has come to the fore especially in olive and olive oil.
In addition to Emine Erdoğan, AK Party Balıkesir Deputies Mustafa Canbey, Belgin Uğur, Yavuz Subaşı, İsmail Ok and Pakize Mutlu Aydemir, Balıkesir University Rector Prof. Dr. İlter Kuş and many local and foreign guests attended.
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