"Türkiye's Gastrodiplomacy Model: The Heritage Table" Event was launched in Gaziantep
The Turkish Cuisine Week, organised since 2022 under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, spouse of President Erdoğan, is being celebrated this year with the theme “The Heritage Table”. The programme kicked off with the event titled "Türkiye's Gastrodiplomacy Model: The Heritage Table" at the 25 December Gaziantep Defence Heroism Panorama and Museum.
"If the world were a house, its kitchen would be Gaziantep."
In his opening remarks, Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber said that the most well-known aspects of Gaziantep, which contributes greatly to Türkiye with its potential, are gastronomy and industry. Çeber pointed out that Gaziantep’s international recognition has increased with its inclusion in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.
Emphasising that Gaziantep is a city of gastronomy and that this has been officially recognised internationally, Çeber said, “I was previously the governor of Rize. The Black Sea also has a magnificent cuisine. My hometown is Tokat. There are 500 to 600 types of dishes there as well. You see the same situation when you go to our other provinces. But I also know that it has a magnificent gastronomic potential that has not yet come to light,” he said. Çeber, who underlined that gastronomy is one of the fields through which culture can best be conveyed, said, “I find Emine Erdoğan’s efforts very valuable. As Gaziantep, we have a rightful claim. "If the world were a house, its kitchen would be Gaziantep." We say this knowing, deserving, and believing in the potential we have,” he stated.
“We provide support for gastronomy across all domains”
Gaziantep Deputy Mayor Feray Yılmaz, for her part, stated that due to the city’s location on the Silk Road, it has hosted many deep-rooted civilisations throughout history and that, in this sense, its cuisine has been enriched under the influence of these civilisations over time. Yılmaz said that the table is not merely a place where food is eaten but an important value where sharing, friendship, solidarity, and the culture of living together are passed on to future generations. Pointing out that the municipality has produced many projects to develop the field of gastronomy in the city, Yılmaz noted the following:
“With the courses we have opened with the aim of passing our deep-rooted culinary culture on to future generations, we introduce Gaziantep dishes at the Culinary Arts Training Centre (MUSEM). At the Art and Vocational Training Courses (GASMEK) of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, we convey Gaziantep’s cuisine and culture to our women and youth. We provide support for gastronomy across all domains We know that the duty of a municipality is not merely limited to building roads and bridges, but also lies in carrying out cultural and artistic projects, as well as visionary initiatives that will pave the way for young people."
The video messages sent to the participants by Emine Erdoğan and Presidency Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran were also displayed at the event.
Following the opening, a panel titled “Gastrodiplomacy in Gaziantep: The Heritage Table", moderated by Prof. Atınç Olcay, faculty member at the Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts at the Faculty of Tourism of Gaziantep University, was held.
At the panel, Dr. Fulya Harp Çelik, faculty member of the Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts at Hasan Kalyoncu University; Chef Cuma Kaplan from the Gaziantep Culinary Arts Center; gastronomy writer and researcher Özden Mermer Özsabuncuoğlu; fourth‑generation baklava and kebab chef and entrepreneur Burhan Çağdaş, and baklava chef and entrepreneur Coşkun Koçak delivered speeches
As part of the programme, a workshop titled “Gastrodiplomacy Model and Cooperation Mechanisms for Gaziantep” will also be held today.
