Turkish cuisine is one of the great culinary traditions of the world, a rich and diverse food culture that has been shaped by thousands of years of history, geography, and the influences of countless civilizations that have passed through this remarkable land. To eat in Turkey is to understand something fundamental about its culture and its people — hospitality, generosity, and a deep pride in the quality and freshness of ingredients are values that show up in every single meal. The kebab, in all its many glorious forms, is perhaps the most famous Turkish dish internationally — but eating a perfectly grilled Adana kebab or a succulent shish taouk in Turkey itself is a completely different experience from anything you will find abroad. Breakfast in Turkey is an event in itself — a vast spread of fresh bread, olives, cheeses, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, honey, and clotted cream that makes you wonder how you ever started a day any other way. Baklava, layers of crispy filo pastry filled with ground pistachios and soaked in sweet syrup, is one of the world’s great desserts, and the version you will find in Turkey — particularly in the southeastern city of Gaziantep, which is considered the baklava capital of the world — is on another level entirely. And no culinary journey through Turkey would be complete without sipping a glass of strong Turkish tea in a traditional tea house, watching the world go by and feeling completely at home in one of the most welcoming countries on earth.
