Istanbul: Turkish cuisine at a crossroads

We explore how a new generation is keeping Turkey's centuries-old culinary traditions alive in a modern world.


Istanbul sits at the point of intersection between Europe and Asia and its food has been heavily influenced by its rich history and traditions: the palace food from the Ottoman times, the Armenian and Greek influences and that from Anatolia.

Although Istanbul is often visited for its past, it's very much a modern metropolis. In a buzzing city with 14 million inhabitants, the food scene is also booming.

Twenty-five percent of the city's population is employed one way or another in the food business and many young people are creating opportunities for themselves from its rich gastronomic history.