LONDON

A taste of Türkiye was brought to the UK as the capital city of London hosted a gastronomic event on Wednesday night as part of international celebrations of Turkish Cuisine Week.

Guests enjoyed a lavish menu of classic dishes from Türkiye's established cuisine at the annual event, which was organized by National Geographic Traveler (UK) this year and hosted at Turkish Ambassador Osman Koray Ertas' residence.

Speaking at the event, Ertas noted that Turkish cuisine is a variety of wonderful dishes "for two simple reasons: one is geography, the other one is history."

"The food is also a social identity matter for us as well. It's a matter of solidarity, strengthening our familial ties, and it's about sharing as well," he said.

Elif Balci Fisunoglu, vice general manager of the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), said that Türkiye welcomes millions of British guests each year, “not only for our sun and sea, but increasingly for the country's rich culture, unique experiences, and most notably for its gastronomy.”

"This year's theme for Turkish Cuisine Week is classic dishes of Turkish cuisine, which invites us to reflect on the timeless recipes that have connected generations across centuries," she said.

Fisunoglu said these are not just meals but memories, values and rituals that define Turkish life.

Pat Riddell, editor of National Geographic Traveler (UK), thanked Ertas for hosting the event as well as the TGA and Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry.

"I think in many ways, Türkiye is an ideal destination for National Geographic Traveler readers," he said, emphasizing that the country offers a large variety of experiences for visitors.

Foreign diplomats, journalists and British state officials were among the distinguished guests at the gastronomic event.