Slow Food Turkey Chefs' Alliance Established
In 2022, Slow Food Turkey Cook Alliance and Metro Turkey formed a significant partnership aimed at preserving local gastronomy and promoting sustainability. As part of this collaboration, Gastronometro hosted the launch of the Slow Food Turkey Cook Alliance on June 27, 2022, and opened its doors throughout the year for events organized by chefs. This partnership aims to sustain Anatolia's rich culinary heritage, support local producers, and create sustainable food systems.
For over 30 years, Metro Turkey has taken on the mission of preserving and promoting the values of Turkish cuisine for future generations. In line with this, Gastronometro serves as a platform for research, development, education, and bringing the gastronomy sector together, hosting projects aligned with the Slow Food philosophy. Regarding the partnership, CEO Sinem Türüng stated, "We share the same values with the Slow Food Cook Alliance, which supports local producers and sustainable farming. Through this collaboration, we believe that our chefs will inspire the younger generation and help local products gain the recognition they deserve in kitchens."
Anatolia's Culinary Heritage and Slow Food's Role
Anatolia, known as the cradle of civilization and a hub of gastronomic richness, has been home to many cultural and biological diversities for centuries, positioned at the crossroads of the Caucasus, the Balkans, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. However, this heritage is under threat due to globalization. Slow Food works to preserve this wealth by supporting local producers and farmers, with the Cook Alliance striving to protect and pass on Anatolian cuisine to future generations.
Ark of Taste: Endangered Flavors
Slow Food includes various vegetables, animal breeds, and processed food products using traditional methods in its Ark of Taste catalog. Through this project, chefs embrace the mission of preserving both biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities by using local and neglected food ingredients. To date, over 80 local products from Turkey have been included in Slow Food's list of protected items. Among these are rare flavors such as Adana topağı olives, Kastamonu pastrami, and Siyez bulgur.
The Role of Chefs and a Call for Solidarity
The Slow Food Turkey Cook Alliance promotes a kitchen culture that carries social and environmental responsibility, going beyond just cooking. The chefs who join this solidarity movement adopt the principles of good, clean, and fair food, working closely with local producers. As part of this alliance, 30 chefs from across Turkey are integrating local flavors into their menus, supporting the communities that sustain these products.
Steps Toward the Future
With this collaboration, Slow Food Turkey will continue to map out Anatolia's culinary landscape, introduce local and sustainable production processes to wider audiences, and especially encourage young chefs to adopt this philosophy. The events to be organized throughout the year with the support of Gastronometro will serve this purpose by strengthening solidarity among chefs and ensuring that local producers receive the recognition they deserve.
Slow Food Turkey has taken a significant step with this partnership in terms of food sustainability and cultural preservation and will continue working to include more chefs and consumers in this mission.