ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Osman prepares an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Necati Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Osman prepares an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Necati Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Osman prepares an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Necati Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: A clay tablet sits on the table as chef Necati Yılmaz prepares an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. In a restaurant in Istanbul far from the ruins of Hattusa, the ancient Hittite capital, a clay tablet sits on the table. Its surface is covered in the wedge-shaped script of a language spoken more than three millennia ago. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: A clay tablet sits on the table as chef Necati Yılmaz prepares an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. In a restaurant in Istanbul far from the ruins of Hattusa, the ancient Hittite capital, a clay tablet sits on the table. Its surface is covered in the wedge-shaped script of a language spoken more than three millennia ago. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Osman prepares an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Necati Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Necati Yılmaz's dishes inspired by archaeological research are seen in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Necati Yılmaz's dishes inspired by archaeological research are seen in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Necati Yılmaz's dishes inspired by archaeological research are seen in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Necati Yılmaz's dishes inspired by archaeological research are seen in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Necati Yılmaz's dishes inspired by archaeological research are seen in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Necati Yılmaz's dishes inspired by archaeological research are seen in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Necati Yılmaz's dishes inspired by archaeological research are seen in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 29: Chef Necati Yılmaz's dishes inspired by archaeological research are seen in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 29, 2025. Chef Yilmaz pays tribute to the ancient Hittite civilization, which thrived in Anatolia over 3,000 years ago, with an 11-course menu inspired by archaeological research. In the heart of Anatolia, long before the Ottoman sultans rose and fell, a different civilization ruled the kitchen. Thousands of years later, the echoes of Hittite cuisine are still simmering in Turkish pots. ( Esra Bilgin - Anadolu Agency )