Life style
Taste of Turkiye in Sri Lanka
This festival transported the diners to the land of Turkiye in all its magnificance.The event saw a ecclectic crowd of many dignitaries, ambassadors from Malaysia, Pakistan,members of parliament and other distinguished invitees who were present to experience this culinary journey ,
The two guest chefs Volkan Gur and Eren Barishan who were specially flown down used premium quality ingredients and delicacies, giving the diners an extraordinary experience of Turkish food,to compliment the moulhwatering dishes, a variety of Turkish desserts such as Backlova, walnut pudding and more were delightfully presented.
The General Manager of the Colombo Mariott Elton Hurtis said “We are thrilled to be able to bring international flavours from Turkiye and partner with the Embassy of Turkiye . Turkish Airlines and Mariott Bonvoy hotel in Turkiye.
Message of love and peace by Dervishes from Turkiye
The highlight of the evening was the speech made by the Ambassador of Turkiye Demet Sekercioglu. Excerpt
“At the opening speech she said. Tonight we celebrate one of the most vibrant elements of our cultural heritage: the Turkish cuisine.As a cuisine that has engaged with numerous civilizations throughout its centuries-old aculinary journey, the doors of Turkish cuisine open to the experiences of different religions, cultures and ethnicities living together.
I believe this unique feature of diversity makes Turkish Cuisine loved by food connoisseurs not only in Turkiye but also around the world.Turkiye boasts a rich gastronomic culture, with her culinary practices seamlessly reflecting her humanity, tolerance and aspiration for peace.
In today’s world where technology and urbanization foster disconnection and isolation, you can be sure that you will find a unique warmth and welcome at every door you knock on, in Anatolia.Our unmatched hospitality is demonstrated by the place we reserve to our guests on our table. We consider them as the Guest of God and cherish them as such.
Turkish culinary culture has also wonderful traditions in further fostering family and friendship bonds. We expect our family elders and guests to take the first bite. We even make sure they sit, right in the centre where they can be the heart of our gathering.In short, our meal times are a beautiful display of our love, generosity, solidarity and the joy of sharing life’s best moments.
Another remarkable aspect of our culinary tradition are the centuries-old recipes that heal both body and soul. The nutriments, herbs and spices grown in the rich Anatolian lands have been used not only for the treatment of diseases but also for their prevention, recipes have been formulated together with physicians.
But the magic of our cuisine doesn’t stop there. In a world grappling with the pressing issue of food insecurity, Turkish culinary tradition stands also as a solution to this global challenge. In fact, in Turkish cuisine almost every part of a product is used in the preparation of various dishes.In this respect, the principles of Turkish cuisine are in line with the basic philosophy of zero waste and are also valuable in terms of protecting the resources of our planet and healing the soul
Before concluding my remarks, she said .The event is so special because we are celebrating the five milestones this year the 75th anniversary of the independence of Sri Lanka,
the Centenary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkiye,the 75th anniversary of the recognition of the independence of Sri Lanka by Turkiye.
– the 10th anniversary of the establishment of our Embassy in Colombo,
-and finally the 10th anniversary of the launch of T urkish Air- lines flights between Istanbul and Colombo.
The magnificient evenings culminated with a ‘Sufi dance with two whirling devishes who ttravelled from Turkiye for this special occasion to convey through their performances,the message of peace and love. Pix by Thushara Attapatu
Managing Director of Abans, Aban Prestonje
General Manager of Mariott Hotel, Elton Hurtis
