1. Excitement of the finals at the Kütahya Gastronomy Competition

The final stage of the 1st Kütahya Gastronomy Competition organized by Kütahya Municipality took place. In the competition held in the garden of Kütahya Municipality, the female contestants who made it to the final prepared three different dishes within the 90-minute timeframe given to them. The competition, which provided an opportunity to promote Kütahya’s local flavors, was also attended by valuable guests and citizens.
World-renowned Turkish chef Hüseyin Özer, who stated that he was received very warmly in Kütahya, expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the competition. Ayvaz Akbacak, one of Turkey’s most famous chefs, pointed out Kütahya’s richness in gastronomy and its history dating back to the Ottoman Empire, saying, “Kütahya cuisine is truly amazing. I believe there is a significant cultural culinary transition here. There are various dishes, for example, pastries are very rich. With the presence of livestock, they say they will be very assertive in buffalo cream, buffalo milk, buffalo yogurt, and now buffalo sausage. Afyon is known for its sausage, but the buffalo sausage here will be truly amazing. As a Tokat native, I can say that Tokat has a special dry sausage, its taste and aroma are very beautiful. I found buffalo sausage to be close to that taste, and it is really wonderful. Additionally, I was intrigued by the ‘bitli helva’ and a few soups in pastries caught my attention,” he said.
Akbacak, noting that Kütahya’s gastronomy is very strong, stated, “Kütahya remains in our memories with porcelain, plates, and tiles, but I hope our people will support the emergence of some forgotten dishes. The spectrum of Turkish cuisine is so vast that every province and every village has a story. We need to listen to those stories and bring them to light.”
At the end of the competition, Kütahya Mayor Eyüp Kahveci made tarhana soup with his own hands and served it to the citizens.