‘Turkish Cuisine Week’ brings taste of hospitality to Pakistan: envoy

KARACHI: The Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Pakistan, İrfan Neziroğlu, has said that Turkish Cuisine Week is an opportunity to share the spirit of Turkish hospitality and cultural heritage with sisters and brothers in Pakistan.

Ambassador Neziroğlu hosted a dinner at the Turkish Embassy Residence in Islamabad on Wednesday evening, bringing together guests for an evening of authentic Turkish flavors and cultural exchange on the occasion of Turkish Cuisine Week.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye has announced the official theme for Turkish Cuisine Week 2026 as “The Heritage Table,” celebrating the cultural stories, traditions, and shared memories preserved through Turkish cuisine.

Turkish Cuisine Week begins on May 21 and will be celebrated until May 27, 2026, across Türkiye and at Turkish diplomatic missions and cultural centres worldwide under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan. The annual celebration highlights Türkiye’s rich culinary heritage and its role in bringing people and cultures together.

This year’s theme presents Turkish cuisine not only as a collection of dishes but also as a living cultural heritage shaped over centuries through migration, rituals, traditions, and shared experiences around the table. Activities planned during the week include communal dining experiences, chef collaborations, traditional cooking demonstrations, and showcases of historic recipes and culinary techniques.

Ambassador Neziroğlu said, “This year, we are celebrating Turkish Cuisine Week for the fifth time across Türkiye and around the world. The dining table, or ‘sofra’ in Turkish, is the oldest language of togetherness. It also reflects the warmth of Turkish hospitality, emphasizing the healthy, zero-waste, and traditional character of Turkish cuisine.”

Featured dishes this year include mantı, tandır, dolma, baklava, and helva, each representing different aspects of Türkiye’s culinary identity and cultural storytelling.

Tourism and cultural authorities noted that Turkish Cuisine Week continues to strengthen cultural exchange and promote Türkiye’s rich gastronomic traditions to international audiences through events hosted around the world.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026