Istanbul: Turkish cuisine at a crossroads | AJ Eats
We explore how a new generation is keeping Turkey's centuries-old culinary traditions alive in a modern world.
Istanbul sits at the point of intersection between Europe and Asia and its food has been heavily influenced by its rich history and traditions: the palace food from the Ottoman times, the Armenian and Greek influences and that from Anatolia.
Although Istanbul is often visited for its past, it's very much a modern metropolis. In a buzzing city with 14 million inhabitants, the food scene is also booming.
Twenty-five percent of the city's population is employed one way or another in the food business and many young people are creating opportunities for themselves from its rich gastronomic history.
AJEats finds out how food became such a strong part of the culture, and what the future holds for Istanbul's food lovers in a world of fast food and mass production.
PRESENTER'S VIEW
By Gerald Tan
Turkish cuisine was once described to me as the original fusion food. It instantly made sense. How often do we hear that Turkey's commercial hub, Istanbul, is the only city occupying two continents, the point where Europe and Asia embrace. It would follow, then, that their culinary influences would be prevalent in Turkey.
Indeed, geography plays a role. The original settlers were nomadic Turkic tribes who left the steppes between the Ural and Altay mountains, migrating towards Central Asia, the Balkans, and finally Anatolia. They brought the elements and practices they picked up along the way, including the food.
But there's a much deeper story. Istanbul was also the seat of not one but four empires. It was during the 600-year reign of the Ottomans that Turkish cuisine as we know it began to crystallise. The sultans were quite simply obsessed with food. Archives dating back to the 15th century detail with great accuracy the kind of feasts served to the royal family, the court, and dignitaries from across the land.
Visiting the imperial kitchen at Topkapi Palace can be bewildering for any food lover. The sheer size of the industrial-sized chimney stacks is an indication of how much activity took place. Cooks from across the empire vied to get in, hoping to catch the attention of the sultan through their cooking.
It was this spirit of competition and creativity that gave birth to thousands of dishes, such as hunkar begendi (stewed lamb with eggplant puree) and mahmudiye (chicken with dried fruit), and propelled Turkish cuisine to be classed as one of the world's three grand cuisines, alongside French and Chinese, a distinction based solely on variety.
Today, it's the youth determining Turkey's gastronomic future. I dined with Korhan Karakoyun, a licensed guide who went through rigorous tests on his country's history and now conducts food tours, where he introduces visitors to traditional Turkish dishes and those preparing them in the old ways. I got to cook with the popular TV chef Refika Birgul, who has made a name for herself adapting ancient recipes to suit modern lifestyles. And I met the Demirhan brothers, entrepreneurs tapping into the growing demand for home-cooked flavours delivered to the doorstep.
All of them are part of a generation not only defining themselves through food but also furiously trying to keep traditions of the Turkish kitchen alive.
THE PEOPLE SHAPING TURKEY'S CULINARY FUTURE
Refika Birgul, the celebrity chef
Refika Birgul [Al Jazeera]
Twitter: @refikabirgul
Refika blushes when she's called a celebrity chef, but there is no better way to describe this humble TV personality.
She is the host of a nationally broadcast cooking show called Mucize Lezzetler (filmed in her kitchen) and the author of the cookbook, Refika'nin Mutfagi. Her recipes are rooted in classic Turkish flavours but adapted to suit a modern lifestyle - typically healthier and quicker to prepare.
Korhan & Leisa Karakoyun, the food tour guide
For those who enjoy eating their way through a city, Korhan is the guy to know in Istanbul. He and his wife Leisa host food tours, taking visitors to places where iconic Turkish dishes are prepared using ancestral methods.
All tour guides in Turkey go through rigorous training from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, but Korhan's genuine love for food makes it an even more memorable experience.
Murat & Bulent Demirhan, the entrepreneurs
Murat & Bulent Demirhan [Al Jazeera]
Twitter: @_MuratDemirhan_
Murat & Bulent are a dynamic duo. In less than two years, the brothers turned an idea of delivering home-style Turkish cooking into a mini fast-food empire.
Source: Al Jazeera
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Пікірлер: 716
I've traveled to a few countries, but nothing compares to Turkey , the people the culture the sights and just stunning , love the history and not to forget the food by far the best cuisine in the world 🇹🇷
@alibalci2683
7 жыл бұрын
thanks a lot bro...
@xz4409
6 жыл бұрын
JenzerBabiee i love you for saying that! Thanks🇹🇷
@viyanferreira6847
6 жыл бұрын
Well, you should try India too. You'll be stunned by the richness and variety in the cuisine.
@BlueHopi144
6 жыл бұрын
and Thai food .....
@papatyagulgurbetci6670
5 жыл бұрын
JenzerBabiee definitely 👍🏻
I love Turkey, I love Turkish people and I love Turkish food.
@MrEbukelb
8 жыл бұрын
+Cornelius Maximillianus and we love you :).. from turkey :)
@emansabir8321
8 жыл бұрын
+MrEbukelb i like to see turkey
@AysunY
8 жыл бұрын
+Cornelius Maximillianus awww :)
@lovepink7457
8 жыл бұрын
Greetings from a Turkish person!😀
@cantivi
8 жыл бұрын
+Cornelius Maximillianus ı love you thx ı am from turkey
I'm an Iraqi and I would dare to say that most of the Iraqi dishes and recipes are taken from the Turkish cuisine Many Regards Turkish people
@imanelara4144
7 жыл бұрын
T.K 1996 Turkish food is diverse thanks to the multiple ethnic/regions influences during ottoman empire (arab,persian,greek,kurd, balkan,armenian,turkic) . Although The real propper turkish food is from the altaïc region in Central Asia.
@onurcevik53
6 жыл бұрын
Punroc There is. Don't spread your ignorance here. Turks lived with armenians,greeks and kurds for hundreds of years. So they influenced each others food culture.
@heathcliffcuckoo
6 жыл бұрын
T.K 1996 I'm an Iraqi too.. but I'd like to say that you're desperately ignorant.. The Mesopotamian (Iraq) cuisine started it all thousands years ago. If you have some knowledge (which I doubt it) about the Turkish cuisine.. you will find most of the items in a book dated back to the Abbasid Caliphate.. the book is entitled (Kitab Al-Tabeekh) by Muhammed bin Hasan Al-Baghdadi in 1226. I'm not here to bash the Turkish cuisine.. I like it myself.. but this is the truth.
@mtgyturti
5 жыл бұрын
Turkish cuisine include ottoman cuisine which is created in palace. Other hand the street food yes it is include iraki food which was borrowed from middle east
@PinarrOm
4 жыл бұрын
@Cenk Tüneygök Bir tane Yunanca isim söyle bakalım
God bless turkey from Scotland
@sundancer06
6 жыл бұрын
thank you
@sacitkoc2544
5 жыл бұрын
Alba gu bràth
@annakhan2565
5 жыл бұрын
Harmony Reilly Amen
@Yafes54
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks
Turkish a brave and good people with rich history. Where i come from( Somalia) we say to brave people like you: "dhaad dhiig leeh" which translates to "people with blood" Salam brothers
@ismailhassan6933
5 жыл бұрын
Caadi iska dhiig saxiip...
@TUNC66
4 жыл бұрын
thank you for your nice comment thank you.
@Yafes54
3 жыл бұрын
Aleykum selam brother 🇸🇴❤️🇹🇷
Respect and Love for People of Turkey ! From Pakistan.
@matraxmatraxak9159
7 жыл бұрын
we love you pakistan
@zainabhassan7273
7 жыл бұрын
Hamza Abbasi love turkey , wish I may visit one day in sh Allah
@Vaampz
7 жыл бұрын
Been to turkey recently and fell in Love with people and food
@serenaytr6994
6 жыл бұрын
Pakistan we love you you are our brother country like Azerbaijan and south korea. ♡
@serenaytr6994
6 жыл бұрын
Eh OK get out here. Paks is helped us, you cant say terrorist for them. Do you wanna see real terrorist? Go to the pkk, tpg, Isis, go to the afrin. Dont worry honey, paks are not gonna take your country, they very much helped us in history, for what? For your country! And now, how can you say "terrorist" for there?
Never seen another country which has so rich and delicious cuisine as the Turkish. It is heaven for food lovers both for meat consumers and vegetarians. No video clip is sufficient to explain the diversity of Turkish cuisine; you just have to go there to understand it. Great country, great people!
@lesleylofthouse276
7 жыл бұрын
Peter Blomgren I agree ! My favourite city in my favourite country .
@imanelara4144
7 жыл бұрын
Peter Blomgren It's diverse thanks to the multiple influences during ottoman empire . The real propper turkish food is from the altaïc region in Central Asia.
@divyajaju2439
6 жыл бұрын
Peter Blomgren hey can u plz tell me do turkish people have pure vegetarian cuisines or dishes also because i am from india and as a pure vegetarian i dont think turkey will suit me because turkish foods are mainly based on meat only they dont eat vegetarian food thats why what do u think
@sultansimmer1871
6 жыл бұрын
Divya Jaju THERE ARE VEGITARIAN DISHES ON TURKEY BUT MAINLY NOT VEGITARIAN
@lordy1952
Жыл бұрын
I guess you never been to China
Turkish People Respect From Morocco
@generaljordan5710
8 жыл бұрын
Thanks :) greetings from Azerbaijan turks :)
@eyupatasoy6539
8 жыл бұрын
+david sos Respect ...
@vidhev
8 жыл бұрын
+9,968,254 views why you saying thanks? He was saying to Turkish people not azerbaijani
@eyupatasoy6539
8 жыл бұрын
They re Turkish too ..
@vidhev
8 жыл бұрын
+Eyup Atasoy no they're not, Turkish is specifically from the country Turkey, they're Turks not Turkish
Ditto Cornelius, I love Turkey, I love Turkish people and I love Turkish food.
I lived in Turkey I love it...so beautiful very unique the food is amazing...
very nice turkish people, Merhaba from Indonesia.
@sleepingwitch6014
8 жыл бұрын
merhaba 👋
@lovepink7457
8 жыл бұрын
Merhaba😄🤗
@cantivi
8 жыл бұрын
+Detta Priyandikawardhana merhaba :) thx men
@onurg.3142
8 жыл бұрын
esenlikler
@rumelia
7 жыл бұрын
Merhaba my friend.
Im Macedonian and its amazing how similar are our peoples habits, generosity and above all food and love for food. Big greetings to Turkey and i hope i visit you some time soon.
Hello Turkey From uk
@turkishwhovian8540
7 жыл бұрын
Georgie Bungle hello UK from Turkey
@georgiebungle2252
7 жыл бұрын
+Turkish Whovian How's it hanging
@turkishwhovian8540
7 жыл бұрын
Georgie Bungle Fine you 😀
@georgiebungle2252
7 жыл бұрын
+Turkish Whovian I'm great ! How's the weather where you are
@turkishwhovian8540
7 жыл бұрын
Georgie Bungle I live in Istanbul and its rainy how is London?
turkish food is the best I ever ate
I miss Istanbul
@saimunver633
4 жыл бұрын
I am gonna get you tickets, urgently you have to come 😉😘
With love from India 🇮🇳 🇹🇷
@TugrulOyunda1
4 жыл бұрын
Loves
I love Turkey's people they're country, they're food's. inshallah i will go there. . greetings From Philippines
I want to visit Turkey so bad, I would love to study abroad, greetings from America 🙂
l live in Turkey. the Turkish meal is very delicious and Turkish people are so nice my Allah keep them blessed Turkey ❤
@saimunver633
4 жыл бұрын
😃🙏🤲😉 sound is pretty good
@abrarmomin9055
3 жыл бұрын
What do you do for living?
lots of love from india..... it is really a wonderful city...
@regenerator4805
5 жыл бұрын
love to india
@TugrulOyunda1
4 жыл бұрын
Loves to you brother
i love turkish food and i am always excited to visit and eat great food in Istanbul. xoxo. Food is Amazing, People are Nice, History & Culture are so Rich and the city & even other part of Turkey are definitely Fascinating. Visiting Turkey is absolutely a boom. :)
turkish food iş so delicious especially i love their sweet dishes künefe and turkish delight ....soo yummy and iskander kebab. love and respect from PAKISTAN
I love turkey from somalia
@husseinabdullahiali6380
4 жыл бұрын
😂😂wara shaqo yeelo
@somalitigress2703
4 жыл бұрын
@@husseinabdullahiali6380 😂😂😂😂
@Yafes54
3 жыл бұрын
🇸🇴 ❤️🇹🇷
I wish you had separate channel for episodes like this. I love food and culture!
@2012salsahot
8 жыл бұрын
Try to watch Eddie Hunag's world, he travels to different countries and try their food. Very awesome guy:)))
@nikkijaneallison
8 жыл бұрын
Ai Aii Hey, thanks! I've seen some of his vids on Vice a while back. He's a cool guy indeed. :D
@rijoy-4893
6 жыл бұрын
I also wish madam .............
@MotorStorm66
4 жыл бұрын
they might have an AJ Eats playlist
Hi Istanbul much love and respect from the Island of Puerto Rico and I love Boran genco...
I’m arab and I love turkey so much 🇹🇷 🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷
@harunyilmaz6674
4 жыл бұрын
I love the arab brothers too.
@burakcyp5948
4 жыл бұрын
Turkey not arabic !!!
@sumerianking4942
4 жыл бұрын
Burak Sevinç No one said that, learn how to read
I swear I'm going back to Istanbul this year!!!
@alikmironov8440
8 жыл бұрын
+Muhammad Shafi Ilham I never have been in Istanbul... I had a dream to go to the Istanbul bridge which cross the Europe and Asia when I was 8 years old. I hope I can do it soon...this year..
@IlhamKamaruddin
8 жыл бұрын
Alik Mironov May your wish come true :)
@IlhamKamaruddin
8 жыл бұрын
***** okay lol
@aryadoganay3131
8 жыл бұрын
+Muhammad Shafi Ilham İf you love yourself, dont come here. PKK bomb attacks here began to organize. My boyfriend died because of they. Turkey cultural , secular and democratic country but lately we are exposed to lot before attac. Sorry for my bad English :/
@Yuspliff
8 жыл бұрын
+Arya Doğanay sorry for your loss :'( i hope Turkey resolves its current crisis, such a beautiful country
I really loved the fact about Turkey is rich culture and history but also a great cuisine and people. Everything in between. Greetings from New Zealand!
I haven't been in Turkey but after seeing the video I fell in love with their behaviors, the way they are presenting their culture through food......Of course, all country nowadays presents their culture by food. And the Turkish cuisine ..oh my god that's fantastic
Just got back from Istanbul... wow!!!!!! amazing! food people. loved it... cant wait to go back again.
Hellooo and god bless turkey 🇹🇷 love from Somalia 🇸🇴
@TugrulOyunda1
4 жыл бұрын
Loves to you brother
Turkisch food is the best ! ♥ :-)
have to go back to istanbul... i hope this year!!
Love Turkey,from Pakistan 🇵🇰
I'm Albanian and we have like 10-15 % similar words with turkey
@tinotarantino3483
5 жыл бұрын
Kosovo is Sırbistan
@ddr1071
5 жыл бұрын
MotoExtremeTV no you dont.albanians aren't originally from Europe you are originally from Northern Africa
@ddr1071
5 жыл бұрын
MotoExtremeTV and skenderbeg isn't albanian he's serbian
@azizabdull6931
5 жыл бұрын
in arabic the same, about 10% words are similar with turky
@katushabecharlotte7725
5 жыл бұрын
Turkey
Turkey is stunning , culture , food , people, rich history ...salam alekum to Turkish brothers and sisters .
Visiting Istanbul is on my bucket list. I can hardly wait to get there! Thanks for posting this.
Acıktım lan
@burakayan1429
8 жыл бұрын
sabret iftara az kaldı :D
@xz4409
6 жыл бұрын
Onur Gürleyen HAHAHAAH
@mhm3575
3 жыл бұрын
ayy bende
IM CRAVING THIS FOR SOME REASON, LOVE LOVE LOVE !!
@tousibali9299
6 жыл бұрын
Same here
I am Turkish - love my city. thanks for the love !
I love Turkey, I love Turkish foods and I love my Turkish boyfriend. Lol 😄 lots of love from Indonesia ❤❤
@TheNicsoner
5 жыл бұрын
Raihana Bashir just think of one basket full of egg and only couple of them gone bad,sorry if you had a bad experience
@raihanabashir6885
5 жыл бұрын
@@TheNicsoner they are all the same
@TheNicsoner
5 жыл бұрын
Raihana Bashir 🤭
@elenagonzalez1710
5 жыл бұрын
Raihana Bashir You can’t say it. There are bad and good people in all the countries in the world.
@emrekazan6078
5 жыл бұрын
Raihana Bashir, You cannot generalized whole Turkish men!
i need a friend from Turkey..what en episode... one of the best i have seen of Turkish Cu sines.. love from India. Dream place for a foodie... (y)
This video is exceptional! Very well done. Going to Istanbul would be foodie heaven for me!
Refika is a wonderful Chef and great at explaining food without being boring or patronizing. Good choice AJ!
lovely country i like Turkish food
Proud to be turkish. Great video thanks 👍
I want to go to Turkey soooo bad!
@TugrulOyunda1
4 жыл бұрын
Başımızın üstünde yerin var kardeşim
I enjoyed all the food in Istanbul. Kofta, fish bun, muffins, varieties of bread , coffee etc. A rich historical heritage and importance. I was spell bound in the beauty and serenity of Hagia Sofia and Galata tower.
It looks like a land of plenty. 95% self-sufficiency in food is something to be proud of.
OMG - this made me really hungry and want to go back to Istanbul! Thank you for making my mouth water AJEats (especially those stuffed mussels). - - - - by the way, i learned from some feature on Turkish food that Turkish (Ottoman) Breakfasts are really big because back then people only ate twice a day.
Turkey the beautiful country nice people and awsome food
Respect to all of mankind from Scotland, Peace and Live to all,
Beautiful country, gorgeous cuisine.
I'm Bangladeshi i like Istanbul Turkey
Oh My God! i feel like i have to go now, Beautiful city, beautiful people and Delicious food, Your brother from Somalia
One of the best food documentaries I have ever watched ...thank you presenter and Aljazeera for the simple and beautiful documentary
I had to take a break while I was watching this cause I found myself in the kitchen after 10 minutes! Great program. First thing tomorrow I'm getting myself some delicious Sarma :)
Wow! That looks good! Istanbul is on my bucket list so I will definitely bring my appetite, that’s for sure!
Love this series!
Love Turkish and Middle Eastern Food.... It is just so complex and amazing. Me and my Canadian spouse it is our most favorite type of cuisine. The decor, lounge music (central asian instrumental traditional music) is also very romantic.
those guys from Meal Box are very funny... because you can get absolutely anything delivered to you in Istanbul.
I am a pakistani girll,,, and i immensly dream to visit turkey one day inshaaAllah reading turkish literature and watching their series i have immense love for turkish culture,,, hopefully inshaaAllah someday the dream will beautifully come true♥️
Oh she mentioned kastamonu .... A very great city I have spend such an amazing year of my life in there
cat at 09:46 priceless
Such a beautiful programme, very well prepared, presented and executed.
beautiful country..MashaaAllah..
sending love to Turkey from Finland.
Turkey will blow your mind. It’s breathtaking..
I love Turkish food 😋😋😋😋
respect and love for people of Turkey. From Turkey:)
Crazy how similar so many cultures are. Food prep shows thats. Great video
Lots of love to Turkish people from India 🤗🤗🤗😘😘
thanks so much I love turkish cuisine!
Love Turkey from Bangadesh!💗😃
Love our Turkish brothers and their culture from Pakistan🇵🇰 I will visit Istanbul soon
I love Turkey and Turkish people 💖 from Algeria respect 🙏
love from pakistan, this year, i am moving to istanbul for my university, i guess this is gonna be my new home, i am so excited...
People look so friendly , cuisine are look amazing , the view also ... o my God , hope someday I could come there ..
Turkey is the center of the universe, many cultures and religion are here and the food is unbelievable maybe the best . Don't hesitate to go there you are not disappointed
Yum!! Everything looks so tasty! 🧡🧡
Turkey is most beautiful land and wonderful peaceful people with no racism. Viva Istanbul
Great video! Can you put up more videos like this? I wish I had seen this before I posted my Turkish cooking video!
Amazing place❤💕 From:PHILIPPINES❤
Going back this summer for a month to visit family and friends, I can't wait!
@Lichugunti
8 жыл бұрын
+Noyan Akis You know its kind of messed up and dangerous here right now :( .
so on my list of places to travel to!
Miss Turkey already. Would love to visit Istanbul again one day soon
Turkey is the best place to visit with all the greatest foods, reach culture, hospitality, 5 star hotels, beautiful beaches, mountains, historic places, and museums. It is the most inexpensive country in Europe. You will love it.
Omg this only made me hungry!I hope to visit someday :)
I really loved this. I will be visiting Istanbul and will have time to explore a little on my way to Cape Town in Nov. I'm so eager. I want a mixture of food & culture.
Turkey your food culture is lovable please keep it natural and keep the traditional cooking alive. Turkey you're certainly on my top 5 countries to visit by 2020 💕 Turkish cuisine is a number 1 tie with the Indian cusine for me. Where natural food especially vegetables and spices are respected that's where my heart is ❣️
ne mutlu turkum diyene
i'll come to Türkiye this summer 😸 i'll eat a lot of food
Definitely visiting soon😍
good food and good people ma shaa'Allah very done to Turkey
super super program that i have seen about turkish world.thanks a lot
Merhaba from Nepal . love turkey n turkish people
dont watch when you are hungry :D greatings from turkey
Turkish food haa!! Thats not a food more like ART..Simply the BEST!!
wow the spice shop looked amazing.
Love your blog x