A feast of flavors is taking place in Bursa.

The registered flavors of Bursa and its forgotten tastes were showcased at the 3rd Bursa International Gastronomy Festival, organized by the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality under the theme ‘Bursa on My Palate.’ President Mustafa Bozbey stated, “Our Gastronomy Festival will be a stage where the richness of our culture and cuisine is introduced to the world and where our most enjoyable flavors are presented.”

The official opening ceremony of the 3rd Bursa International Gastronomy Festival, prepared with rich content to reveal Bursa’s gastronomic culture, started with a colorful parade extending from Cumhuriyet Street to Atatürk Stadium Street. The opening ceremony, which took place in Merinos Park, which transformed into a giant kitchen, began with the cutting of the ribbon at the entrance of the festival area. The ceremony was attended by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and his wife Seden Bozbey, as well as Deputy Governor Rıza Gençoğlu, Bursa MP Nurhayat Altaca Kayışoğlu, CHP Provincial Chairman Nihat Yeşiltaş, the President of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen Bendevi Palandöken, Bursa MPs, BESOB President Fahrettin Bilgit, district mayors, metropolitan municipality bureaucrats, gastronomy professionals, chefs, gastronomy students, and citizens.

“Welcome to our table, welcome to our festival”

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey stated that the Gastronomy Festival, held for the third time this year under the theme ‘Bursa on My Palate,’ would be an adventure where cultural heritage would also be discovered. Expressing that gastronomy reflects culture, geography, and historical accumulation, Mayor Bozbey said, “This year, we prepared a festival consisting of Bursa cuisine and our products. We wanted to tell the story of our city at our table with our own products and dishes. Welcome to our table, welcome to our festival. The agricultural richness that Bursa possesses comes alive in all its glory on our tables. However, our farmers do not receive the compensation they deserve for this. Those who live on land that bursts with fertility are currently forced to think twice even when meeting their basic food needs. The most important condition for the future of our city, for our tables to meet with healthy foods, is to protect our lands. Throughout our gastronomy festival, we will present our products and Bursa flavors to our guests,” he said.

“Another result of the festival is to energize our local economy”

Mayor Bozbey explained that they were developing projects to enable farmers to achieve higher yields at lower costs. He mentioned that they were trying to reduce farmers’ costs through seed and equipment supports, making their production sustainable. He stated that gastronomy events would form the backbone of rural tourism. Bozbey said, “Gastronomy tourism has great potential not only for discovering local cuisines but also for contributing to the local economy. Another result of this festival is to bring movement to our stagnant local economy. In the coming years, we will further disseminate this economic benefit. Our festival will be a stage that introduces the richness of our culture and cuisine to the world. The purpose of our festival is to promote our dishes, support local producers, and build bridges in the world of gastronomy,” he said.

“Flavors that appeal to the ears, eyes, and palates”

Mayor Bozbey reminded that there would be interviews and stage shows with the participation of valuable names during the three-day festival, expressing that guests would have an unforgettable experience with workshops, open kitchens, scientific sessions, record attempts, and colorful competitions. He stated that gastronomy stakeholders participated in the festival with attendees from seven different countries and ten different provinces. Bozbey said, “Our visitors will have the opportunity to experience flavors that appeal to the ears, eyes, and palates. We are presenting you with a packed festival program. I thank everyone who contributed to the organization of our festival.”

TESK General President Bendevi Palandöken stated that the Gastronomy Festival would greatly contribute to both promotion and producers, thanking those who contributed to the preparation of the festival. Bursa MP Nurhayat Altaca Kayışoğlu stated that Bursa is a rich city not only in terms of its historical, cultural, and natural beauty but also in gastronomy and local flavors. Kayışoğlu thanked President Mustafa Bozbey and his team for their efforts in preparing the Gastronomy Festival.

Bursa Deputy Governor Rıza Gençoğlu, CHP Provincial Chairman Nihat Yeşiltaş, Gemlik Mayor Şükrü Deviren, Mudanya Mayor Deniz Dalgıç, and Yenişehir Mayor Ercan Özel also thanked everyone who contributed to the organization of the Gastronomy Festival. After the speeches, President Mustafa Bozbey and TESK President Bendevi Palandöken presented plaques of appreciation to representatives of firms that contributed to the festival. During the program, a traditional ‘ŞED Ceremony,’ an Ahi tradition, was reenacted by the head chef of Kebapçı İskender, Yavuz İskenderoğlu, and his son Oğuzhan İskenderoğlu, along with gastronomy students who completed their training at Nilüfer Vocational Training Center.

At the end of the ceremony, President Mustafa Bozbey, his wife Seden Bozbey, and protocol members cut the opening cake of the festival and served it to the participants.