Turkish Cuisine Week: dishes with original qualities

gastronomy

THE CELEBRATION OF ANATOLIAN FLAVORS

TURKISH CUISINE REFLECTS CENTURIES-OLD KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE Held for the first time this year from May 21 to 27, Turkish Cuisine Week aimed to showcase Turkish dishes with all their original qualities as the crown of the tables. The event was celebrated with culinary events in Türkiye and abroad. In Hungary, the main events on the agenda included a gala dinner and a culinary workshop organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Budapest.

Turkish cuisine, nurtured and shaped by deep-rooted Anatolian history, stands out with its healthy characteristics, creative aspect and sustainable approach. The flavors of Turkish dishes, influenced by thousands of years of history and the Seljuk and Ottoman palaces, carry a vast cultural accumulation to the present day. Dishes and meals that utilize every element of a product, without waste, reveal an ecologically sustainable tradition of taste. Offering countless options for vegetarian and vegan diets along with restorative pickles and vinegars, Turkish cuisine is also a world cuisine with the potential to respond to all dining trends, the organizers say. In the framework of this program series, Turkish cuisine presented to the world its legendary flavors, each of which reflects centuries-old knowledge and cultural heritage. During Turkish Cuisine Week, menus prepared with creative presentations by Türkiye’s world-famous chefs were offered to guests and visitors in different countries. At the same time, menus created specifically for the Turkish Cuisine Week in Türkiye allowed guests to experience the best examples of Turkish cuisine in different restaurants around the world.

Representing cultural identity

On the occasion of the Turkish Cuisine Week, Meltem Güney, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Budapest, hosted a gala dinner – sponsored by the Özyer Group – at the Matild Palace in Budapest, of which she said “We could not think of a more suitable venue than the exquisite Matild Palace.” In her speech, she highlighted that “For each culture, cuisine represents cultural identity. Food carries much more meaning than merely being the basic biological and nutritional requirements for human survival. It reflects culture, history, faith and identity. Today, Turkish cuisine has a very unique place in the world. It comprises a wide range of ingredients and consists of elements that extend from the country side to the palace. With our unique geographical location, the richness of our cuisine comes from the intersection of different cultures throughout centuries. It is a vast treasure that dates back hundreds of years.” She added that Turkish dining tables are a symbol of the spirit of sharing and solidarity. To date, dining tables have been one of the most powerful forms of communication, the means of connecting and bringing people together. An important characteristic of Turkish cuisine, she pointed out, is that it creates a delicate balance between the body and soul. For example, when someone says “Şifa olsun” which means “To your good health” when they are eating, this indicates that the main purpose of eating is being healthy. Recipes for meals that heal the sick, restore the weak and soothe the soul were handed down from generation to generation. “In this respect, Turkish cuisine is like an antidote against the harms of industrialized food that gives temporary pleasure, but also eliminates the traditions of food culture,” she said.

Unique flavours of Turkish cuisine

Going into details about the uniqueness of Turkish cuisine in the world, Meltem Güney said that with its richness, traditional Turkish cuisine has been passed down from generation to generation and recipes like abugannuş, oruk, künefe, lokum, kaymak, sucuk and pöç are under the protection of UNESCO. She pointed out that all the food that is left over during preparation in Turkish cuisine can be transformed into completely different dishes using zero waste techniques, thus contributing to sustainability, while many recipes have healing powers by paying attention to the delicate balance between the body and soul. Introducing the book "Turkish Cuisine with Timeless Recipes," Chargé d'Affaires Güney said that in today's world where fast food culture is on the rise, this book is not only about recipes but also about the secrets to creating a healthy and waste-free food culture. She added that work is already underway to translate the book into Hungarian, thus enabling the unique flavors of Turkish cuisine to be widely enjoyed by Hungarians. The gala dinner at the Matild Palace was attended by more than 100 guests, including Anikó Lévai, Spouse of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Head of the Board of Editors of Magyar Konyha; Ernő Schaller-Baross, Member of the European Parliament and Ministerial Commissioner; András Baranyi, Deputy State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, high level officials, many foreign Ambassadors, businessmen and renowned Hungarian chefs. At the fine-dining gala dinner, some of the unique flavors of Turkish cuisine selected from the book "Turkish Cuisine with Timeless Recipes" were served. The delicacies prepared by Songül Coşkun, the Embassy's Chef, and Franz Pichler, the Matild Palace's Executive Chef, were received with great acclaim. During the evening, the guests also enjoyed a concert of classical music by pianist Berkay Özkan, who played music by famous Turkish and Hungarian composers. At the end of the evening, the guests were presented with chocolate covered gourmet rose and pistachio lokum, a traditional Turkish delight, made by the master confectioners of ‘Divan’ – the world’s premier producer of this delicacy – as a farewell gift.

Turkish Culinary Workshop

Another important event organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Budapest in the framework of the Turkish Cuisine Week in Hungary was held in cooperation with the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Budapest. The ‘Turkish Culinary Workshop’ took place in the presence of famous gastronomy bloggers and food lovers. During the well-attended event, participants had the opportunity to prepare a menu of stuffed grape leaves with sour cherry (Vişneli Yaprak Sarma), meat stuffed bulgur balls (İçli Köfte), eggplant parcels stuffed with stewed lamb (İslim Kebabı), rice pilaf with currants and pine nuts (İç Pilav), almond pudding (Keşkül), as well as taste the unique flavors of Turkish cuisine, under the guidance of the Embassy's Chef Songül Coşkun.

THE MENU OF THE GALA DINNER AT THE MATILD PALACE

Vişneli Yaprak Sarma, Mercimek Köftesi, Humus, Peynirli Köz Biber Stuffed Vine Leaves with Sour Cherry, Red Lentil Kofta, Hummus, Roasted Red Pepper Rolls Stuffed with Tulum Cheese *** İçli Köfte ve Ispanaklı Börek Meat Stuffed Bulgur Balls and Layered Pastry with Spinach *** Bostana Salata Fine Cut Tomato Salad with Pomegranate Sauce *** İslim Kebabı - İç Pilav ile Eggplant Parcels Stuffed with Stewed Lamb Served with Rice Pilaf with Currants and Pine Nuts *** Ayva Tatlısı ve Fıstıklı Baklava Quince Dessert and Pistachio Baklava *** Gül Şurubu (Rose Syrup) Zencefil Şerbeti (Ginger Sherbet) Çay ve Kahve (Tea and Coffee)

wine

Ezerjó is an autochthonous white grape variety with a long history, which has received a protected designation of origin (in Soltvadkert, central Hungary) established by the European Union.

NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF EZERJÓ

FRITTMANN WINERY VENTURES INTO THE WORLD OF ORGANIC VITICULTURE

Ezerjó (‘Thousand blessings’) is one of the grape varieties with the longest tradition in the Great Hungarian Plain and is known for its lively acidity, which allows it, in addition to reductive and barrel-aged dry wines, to be bottled as a sparkling and late-harvest wine.

Sandy soil

Soltvadkert represents a small, delimited area of the Kunság wine region within the Hungarian Plain wine growing area. From the point of view of the terroir, it is a particularly flat area, with differences in level of no more than 10-15 meters. The sandy soils are characterized by their rapid warming and their light color, which reflects the sun's rays and has a positive effect on the ripening of the vines. It is also a global curiosity that the soil here, with a quartz content of more than 75%, is inhospitable for the dreaded phylloxera insect, which wiped out almost all European grape production at the end of the 19th century. Respected grapes

"A thousand ties connect us to Ezerjó," according to Péter Frittmann, who is responsible for the production of the wines at the local Frittmann Winery. "Our ancestors cultivated Ezerjó in the family's oldest vineyard, therefore, it is of particular significance to us that this piece of land and this vineyard is still in the possession of the family. The vines here are over sixty years old. There is a saying in our family: ‘These grapes demand respect’. Not just as an abstract dictum, but also because the bunches grow close to the ground, so you have to bow for all the work you do in the vineyard.”

Organic viticulture

He adds that “Ezerjó is not only the past and present for us, but also an exciting journey into the future. This is the first plantation where we have started organic transition. Organic viticulture begins with a three-year transition period, after that the grapes grown here can officially be called ’organic’. In our case 2022 will be the second year. To our mind it is symbolic that we are embarking on an important new path for the future with the same vineyard where our winery's story began with Ezerjó."

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NOVEMBER 14, BUDAPEST ARENA, BUDAPEST Alter Bridge’s European Winter tour, the ‘Pawns & Kings’ will hit 25 cities over 18 countries, kicking off on November 1st in Hamburg, Germany and wrapping up on December 12th in London, England. The band will arrive at Hungary as well, they will perform live at the Budapest Arena on November 14, 2022! Alter Bridge are currently hard at work recording their seventh studio album, which is the follow-up to the smash hit Walk The Sky, released in 2019, which topped the charts in more than a dozen countries. As the currently untitled album will be released in the second half of the year, European fans will be the first in the world to hear the new songs live. Joining them as special guests are Grammywinning rockers HALESTORM. Renowned as a spell-binding live music force, Halestorm’s set is sure to be an unmissable treat. Getting the party started each night are none other than MAMMOTH WVH, visiting some countries for the first time. They currently polishing their performance on the road with Guns N Roses, make sure you get in early to catch their set.

livenation.hu

BACKSTREET BOYS

NOVEMBER 2, BUDAPEST ARENA, BUDAPEST The Backstreet Boys, one of the best-selling bands of all time, have announced UK and European Fall dates for their DNA World Tour. The group last performed for audiences across Europe in 2019, selling over 350K tickets. With countless No.1 albums, record-setting tours, numerous awards and worldwide sales in excess of 130 million, BSB has been recognized as the most successful boy band in history. In early 2019, BSB released their 10th studio album DNA which debuted at No.1. The Don’t Go Breaking My Heart chart topping single was nominated for GRAMMY, and was BSB’s first hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in ten years. Upon its release, the single went straight to No.1 on iTunes charts and charted in over 22 countries. In May 2019, the Backstreet Boys kicked off The DNA World Tour – the group’s biggest tour in 18 years. The tour has seen the group sell out arenas all over North and South America, Europe and Asia. The Budapest show was also sold out in a few days. Over the years, the Backstreet Boys have continually captivated millions of people with their hit songs and magnificent shows, and this passion remains unchanged after their hugely successful comeback. Backstreet Boys will donate a portion of their ticket sales to the UN’s Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

livenation.hu

SZIGET FESTIVAL

AUGUST 10-15, BUDAPEST One of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe, the Sziget Festival – held every August in northern Budapest, on Óbudaisziget (‘Old Buda Island’), a leafy 108-hectare (266-acre) island on the River Danube – is back after a twoyear hiatus due to the pandemic. The first Sziget Festival was organized in 1993 as a small gathering and has since evolved into one of Europe’s largest music festivals. Each year, organizers strive to bring Szitizens some of the biggest names, and host over 1,000 shows across 60 stages, for six days straight. Sziget 2022 returns after a long break with world stars, established names, performers never seen in this country before, fresh, exciting, emerging talent. Kings of Leon released a new album last March, making up for their cancelled 2020 Island concert, as does Dua Lipa, who brings her Grammy-winning album from the year before last and is also the top of the wish list for Sziget visitors. Other headliners on the main stage include Arctic Monkeys, Bastille, Stromae and Lewis Capaldi, Sam Fender and recent Grammy winner Rüfüs Du Sol. While music is an important part of Sziget, art is also a core element. There are multiple venues including a circus, theater, museum quarter and much more. Artists and performers come from all over the world to display their talents. There are also opportunities for Szitizens and artists to work together in order to create memorable and meaningful artwork.

szigetfestival.com ART DECO BUDAPEST

UNTIL AUGUST 28, HUNGARIAN NATIONAL GALLERY, BUDAPEST The Hungarian National Gallery’s exhibition titled Art Deco Budapest. Posters, Lifestyle and the City (1925–1938) presents a comprehensive overview of the distinct visual culture of the interwar period. The main focus of the exhibition is Hungarian Art Deco, with a highlight on poster art and modern urban lifestyle. The majority of the more than 250 exhibits are rarely seen at exhibitions, and some of them are displayed for the very first time. The exhibition seeks to portray the exciting period of the 1920s and 1930s, which brought about important changes. It takes visitors on a journey through the era and Art Deco using the genre of the poster. One hundred years ago, after the trauma of World War I and the devastation of the Spanish flu, in the second half of the 1920s, the economic consolidation was coupled with people’s unfettered desire to enjoy life, with glamour and the sometimes decadent lust for life being at the heart of Art Deco tastes. Art Deco drew on a wide range of inspirations: the achievements of avant-garde fine arts, decorative stylization and elements of historical styles as well as a rediscovery of folk art, exotic cultures, and even ancient Egyptian art. Above all, Art Deco posters sought to catch people’s attention through dazzling spectacle, the glamour of elegance, the seduction of eroticism, the allure of the exotic, the thrill of speed, and the eerie romanticism of the underworld. Art Deco equally exerted an influence on fine arts and applied arts, film, theater, music and architecture.

mng.hu