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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[@jenzerbabiee1]

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]

thanks a lot bro...

[@xz4409]

JenzerBabiee i love you for saying that! Thanks🇹🇷

[@viyanferreira6847]

Well, you should try India too. You'll be stunned by the richness and variety in the cuisine.

[@BlueHopi144]

and Thai food .....

[@papatyagulgurbetci6670]

JenzerBabiee definitely 👍🏻

[@TurkiyeCumhurbaskani]

I love Turkey, I love Turkish people and I love Turkish food.

[@MrEbukelb]

+Cornelius Maximillianus and we love you :).. from turkey :)

[@emansabir8321]

+MrEbukelb i like to see turkey

[@AysunY]

+Cornelius Maximillianus awww :)

[@lovepink7457]

Greetings from a Turkish person!😀

[@cantivi]

+Cornelius Maximillianus ı love you thx ı am from turkey

[@TK-nr8xn]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

@Cenk Tüneygök Bir tane Yunanca isim söyle bakalım

[@Abss0966]

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]

Caadi iska dhiig saxiip...

[@TUNC66]

thank you for your nice comment thank you.

[@Yafes54]

Aleykum selam brother 🇸🇴❤️🇹🇷

[@harmoneyreilly4225]

God bless turkey from Scotland

[@sundancer06]

thank you

[@sacitkoc2544]

Alba gu bràth

[@annakhan2565]

Harmony Reilly Amen

[@Yafes54]

Thanks

[@tobaas7759]

Turkish People Respect From Morocco

[@generaljordan5710]

Thanks :) greetings from Azerbaijan turks :)

[@eyupatasoy6539]

+david sos Respect ...

[@vidhev]

+9,968,254 views why you saying thanks? He was saying to Turkish people not azerbaijani

[@eyupatasoy6539]

They re Turkish too ..

[@vidhev]

+Eyup Atasoy no they're not, Turkish is specifically from the country Turkey, they're Turks not Turkish

[@peterblomgren3548]

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]

Peter Blomgren I agree ! My favourite city in my favourite country .

[@imanelara4144]

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]

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]

Divya Jaju THERE ARE VEGITARIAN DISHES ON TURKEY BUT MAINLY NOT VEGITARIAN

[@lordy1952]

I guess you never been to China

[@hamzaabbasi9241]

Respect and Love for People of Turkey ! From Pakistan.

[@matraxmatraxak9159]

we love you pakistan

[@zainabhassan7273]

Hamza Abbasi love turkey , wish I may visit one day in sh Allah

[@Vaampz]

Been to turkey recently and fell in Love with people and food

[@serenaytr6994]

Pakistan we love you you are our brother country like Azerbaijan and south korea. ♡

[@serenaytr6994]

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?

[@GregCheekSpeaks]

Ditto Cornelius, I love Turkey, I love Turkish people and I love Turkish food.

[@dettapriyandika]

very nice turkish people, Merhaba from Indonesia.

[@sleepingwitch6014]

merhaba 👋

[@lovepink7457]

Merhaba😄🤗

[@cantivi]

+Detta Priyandikawardhana merhaba :) thx men

[@onurg.3142]

esenlikler

[@rumelia]

Merhaba my friend.

[@georgiebungle2252]

Hello Turkey From uk

[@turkishwhovian8540]

Georgie Bungle hello UK from Turkey

[@georgiebungle2252]

+Turkish Whovian How's it hanging

[@turkishwhovian8540]

Georgie Bungle Fine you 😀

[@georgiebungle2252]

+Turkish Whovian I'm great ! How's the weather where you are

[@turkishwhovian8540]

Georgie Bungle I live in Istanbul and its rainy how is London?

[@andamrogers7292]

I lived in Turkey I love it...so beautiful very unique the food is amazing...

[@arabiz1585]

turkish food is the best I ever ate

[@prattapdesai9223]

With love from India 🇮🇳 🇹🇷

[@TugrulOyunda1]

Loves

[@jiji309]

I miss Istanbul

[@saimunver633]

I am gonna get you tickets, urgently you have to come 😉😘

[@ahmeddeeeq7820]

l live in Turkey. the Turkish meal is very delicious and Turkish people are so nice my Allah keep them blessed Turkey ❤

[@saimunver633]

😃🙏🤲😉 sound is pretty good

[@abrarmomin9055]

What do you do for living?

[@nikkijaneallison]

I wish you had separate channel for episodes like this. I love food and culture!

[@2012salsahot]

Try to watch Eddie Hunag's world, he travels to different countries and try their food. Very awesome guy:)))

[@nikkijaneallison]

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]

I also wish madam .............

[@MotorStorm66]

they might have an AJ Eats playlist

[@dumo2276]

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.

[@muskankukreja4537]

lots of love from india..... it is really a wonderful city...

[@regenerator4805]

love to india

[@TugrulOyunda1]

Loves to you brother

[@lhoriecalderon3020]

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. :)

[@ultraubesian4305]

I want to visit Turkey so bad, I would love to study abroad, greetings from America 🙂

[@pahmeatacuquin5925]

I love Turkey's people they're country, they're food's. inshallah i will go there. . greetings From Philippines

[@siciidmaxamuud9850]

I love turkey from somalia

[@husseinabdullahiali6380]

😂😂wara shaqo yeelo

[@somalitigress2703]

@@husseinabdullahiali6380 😂😂😂😂

[@Yafes54]

🇸🇴 ❤️🇹🇷

[@noornoor-wd8ub]

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

[@IlhamKamaruddin]

I swear I'm going back to Istanbul this year!!!

[@alikmironov8440]

+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]

Alik Mironov May your wish come true :)

[@IlhamKamaruddin]

***** okay lol

[@aryadoganay3131]

+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]

+Arya Doğanay sorry for your loss :'( i hope Turkey resolves its current crisis, such a beautiful country

[@antoniavendrell8091]

Hi Istanbul much love and respect from the Island of Puerto Rico and I love Boran genco...

[@mooshiewooshie]

I’m arab and I love turkey so much 🇹🇷 🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷

[@harunyilmaz6674]

I love the arab brothers too.

[@burakcyp5948]

Turkey not arabic !!!

[@sumerianking4942]

Burak Sevinç No one said that, learn how to read

[@AnimeHairstyle]

have to go back to istanbul... i hope this year!!

[@mikedee2412]

Just got back from Istanbul... wow!!!!!! amazing! food people. loved it... cant wait to go back again.

[@valerieselau7384]

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!

[@GeneralHensaleey]

Hellooo and god bless turkey 🇹🇷 love from Somalia 🇸🇴

[@TugrulOyunda1]

Loves to you brother

[@panthera50]

Turkisch food is the best ! ♥ :-)

[@NOTORIOUS_CODM]

I'm Albanian and we have like 10-15 % similar words with turkey

[@tinotarantino3483]

Kosovo is Sırbistan

[@ddr1071]

MotoExtremeTV no you dont.albanians aren't originally from Europe you are originally from Northern Africa

[@ddr1071]

MotoExtremeTV and skenderbeg isn't albanian he's serbian

[@azizabdull6931]

in arabic the same, about 10% words are similar with turky

[@katushabecharlotte7725]

Turkey

[@nawazsaquib1390]

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

[@kiranarahmi6689]

I love Turkey, I love Turkish foods and I love my Turkish boyfriend. Lol 😄 lots of love from Indonesia ❤❤

[@TheNicsoner]

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]

@@TheNicsoner they are all the same

[@TheNicsoner]

Raihana Bashir 🤭

[@elenagonzalez1710]

Raihana Bashir You can’t say it. There are bad and good people in all the countries in the world.

[@emrekazan6078]

Raihana Bashir, You cannot generalized whole Turkish men!

[@anoshaabdulaziz47]

Love Turkey,from Pakistan 🇵🇰

[@onurg.3142]

Acıktım lan

[@burakayan1429]

sabret iftara az kaldı :D

[@xz4409]

Onur Gürleyen HAHAHAAH

[@mhm3575]

ayy bende

[@crusaderqk]

I want to go to Turkey soooo bad!

[@TugrulOyunda1]

Başımızın üstünde yerin var kardeşim

[@DD-fe2xw]

Turkey is stunning , culture , food , people, rich history ...salam alekum to Turkish brothers and sisters .

[@irembicak8969]

Proud to be turkish. Great video thanks 👍

[@ahmetbudak4344]

I am Turkish - love my city. thanks for the love !

[@jamaluddin-sf4td]

I'm Bangladeshi i like Istanbul Turkey

[@CigdemSidneyOzdemircelik]

Refika is a wonderful Chef and great at explaining food without being boring or patronizing. Good choice AJ!

[@ishiipavithra1580]

lovely country i like Turkish food

[@wazidahmed4850]

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)

[@sanayaali8371]

Turkey the beautiful country nice people and awsome food

[@ASMREatingShow]

IM CRAVING THIS FOR SOME REASON, LOVE LOVE LOVE !!

[@tousibali9299]

Same here

[@gr8teagazr122]

Visiting Istanbul is on my bucket list. I can hardly wait to get there! Thanks for posting this.

[@carawshe1]

Oh My God! i feel like i have to go now, Beautiful city, beautiful people and Delicious food, Your brother from Somalia

[@rumelia]

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 :)

[@sarahcolley1683]

those guys from Meal Box are very funny... because you can get absolutely anything delivered to you in Istanbul.

[@lisastorhaug5052]

This video is exceptional! Very well done. Going to Istanbul would be foodie heaven for me!

[@aliarahman8281]

Lots of love to Turkish people from India 🤗🤗🤗😘😘

[@fauxmanchu8094]

Beautiful country, gorgeous cuisine.

[@nabilakhondaker7537]

Love Turkey from Bangadesh!💗😃

[@jwy414]

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.

[@robertfisher632]

Respect to all of mankind from Scotland, Peace and Live to all,

[@ramatgan1]

It looks like a land of plenty. 95% self-sufficiency in food is something to be proud of.

[@JenniferJR-kt7iz]

Oh she mentioned kastamonu .... A very great city I have spend such an amazing year of my life in there

[@Lama74955]

Merhaba from Nepal . love turkey n turkish people

[@prof.dr.andrewssamraj3925]

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.

[@valf156115]

Love this series!

[@tuna260]

beautiful country..MashaaAllah..

[@anesfilthy]

cat at 09:46 priceless

[@shafaqathsirajuddin423]

One of the best food documentaries I have ever watched ...thank you presenter and Aljazeera for the simple and beautiful documentary

[@KnowYourRights]

I love Turkish food 😋😋😋😋

[@sanaasif6640]

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♥️

[@narcisatan8130]

Amazing place❤💕 From:PHILIPPINES❤

[@tuxitalk1World]

Wow! That looks good! Istanbul is on my bucket list so I will definitely bring my appetite, that’s for sure!

[@dayanabeainy3721]

Such a beautiful programme, very well prepared, presented and executed.

[@NailaRose]

thanks so much I love turkish cuisine!

[@Ajdj-]

Turkey is most beautiful land and wonderful peaceful people with no racism. Viva Istanbul

[@alexandrealferan7144]

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.

[@Miineel]

dont watch when you are hungry :D greatings from turkey

[@AhsanNadeem]

Love our Turkish brothers and their culture from Pakistan🇵🇰 I will visit Istanbul soon

[@tiger-cu8hk]

Turkish people look so healthy...compare to other countries

[@aysanfeti1]

ne mutlu turkum diyene

[@svart7716]

Turkey will blow your mind. It’s breathtaking..

[@alp196]

Turkish food haa!! Thats not a food more like ART..Simply the BEST!!

[@vickyskye8492]

Crazy how similar so many cultures are. Food prep shows thats. Great video

[@diniferry9107]

People look so friendly , cuisine are look amazing , the view also ... o my God , hope someday I could come there ..

[@TheSTHLMDiaries]

Yum!! Everything looks so tasty! 🧡🧡

[@carisv2834]

so on my list of places to travel to!

[@edexnorth123]

sending love to Turkey from Finland.

[@ChefRafi]

Great video! Can you put up more videos like this? I wish I had seen this before I posted my Turkish cooking video!

[@blackeagle7838]

respect and love for people of Turkey. From Turkey:)

[@abdullahyar1500]

Turkish food is love just like turks i will visit turkey when i grow up love from pakistan peshawar

[@kc30058]

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.

[@amberclaud6395]

i'll come to Türkiye this summer 😸 i'll eat a lot of food

[@flowergirl7443]

Definitely visiting soon😍

[@Shelleyweaver84]

Love your blog x

[@muuradmiiah9755]

Miss Turkey already. Would love to visit Istanbul again one day soon

[@arimax888]

Omg this only made me hungry!I hope to visit someday :)

[@MegaBassliner]

Going back this summer for a month to visit family and friends, I can't wait!

[@Lichugunti]

+Noyan Akis You know its kind of messed up and dangerous here right now :( .

[@yasminebr9190]

I love Turkey and Turkish people 💖 from Algeria respect 🙏

[@lumturijebracaj5314]

good food and good people ma shaa'Allah very done to Turkey

[@nurnura6449]

super super program that i have seen about turkish world.thanks a lot

[@desantagabrove4048]

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...

[@kwdhaka3796]

Inshallha I coming Turky🇧🇩♥🇹🇷

[@yusufyenici]

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