Permanent Representation Office of Turkey to the European Union (EU) organized a gastrodiplomacy event on September 28, 2021 in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, to support the development of intercultural dialogue between Turkey and the EU.

The event, hosted by Turkey's Permanent Representative to the EU Mehmet Kemal Bozay, was organized in cooperation with the European Parliament (EP) Turkey-EU Friendship Group, the EU Presidency, Yunus Emre Institute and the Brussels-based non-governmental organization ECOPNET.

The event titled "Diplomacy on the Menu" was attended by Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Şeref Ateş, representatives of EU institutions, EP Turkey reporter Nacho Sanchez Amor, Belgian politicians, think tanks and representatives of the business world, in addition to the ambassadors of many EU countries such as France, Italy, Slovenia, and the term president of the EU.

"WE AIM TO INTRODUCE MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE AND MEET IN THIS CULTURE”

Turkey's Permanent Representative to the EU Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay said that culinary diplomacy and gastrodiplomacy have become one of the tools of tourism diplomacy in recent years. Ambassador Bozay spoke as follows:

"Our country is on the way to become an important brand in this field with its centuries-old traditions and recipes. With the 'Diplomacy on the Menu' event, we aim to introduce the Mediterranean cuisine, which is the common culture of Turkey and the EU, and meet in this culture."

Expressing that Mediterranean cuisine is the product of common interaction, cultural exchange in the region rather than belonging to a single country or culture, Bozay emphasized that Turkish dishes and products specific to Mediterranean cuisine are an important sociocultural indicator that Turkey is an inseparable part of European cultural heritage and wealth.

"WE HAVE COMBINED THE DISHES WE HAVE SHARED WITH THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF YUNUS”

Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Şeref Ateş drew attention to the common cuisine of Turkey and Mediterranean countries and noted that gastrodiplomacy is one of the most important elements of cultural diplomacy today.

Pointing out the importance of holding such an event in this year, which UNESCO declared as the year of commemoration of Yunus Emre, Ateş stated that Yunus Emre's "one door to the ingenuity is abstinence".

"Yunus' philosophy of life envisages going to unity in multiplicity. Just as the air we share keeps us alive by breathing, the food we share together can be an energy for all souls in abundance and prosperity. That's why we combined the common breath and meals we shared after the epidemic with the universal language of Yunus, with the 'Diplomacy on the Menu' with our EU Embassy.

THE UNIFYING POWER OF GASTRONOMY 

At the event, which aims to support the development of intercultural dialogue between Turkey and the EU, the unifying power of gastronomy was highlighted by presenting foods and beverages specific to the region and the Mediterranean basin.

During the night, Turkish chefs and professional Italian Chef Giovanni Terracciano organized a culinary workshop with local products from Turkey and especially EU member Mediterranean countries. Within the scope of the event, the guests were offered food and drinks from the Mediterranean cuisine.

Traditional Turkish coffee and cologne were presented to the guests at the event, in which Mediterranean melodies were also held in order to represent the interactions in music and the common cultural accumulation.