The 2nd International Food Fest Antalya Gastronomy Festival, organized this year and drawing a large number of visitors, has come to an end.
The Antalya Metropolitan Municipality organized the International Food Fest Antalya Gastronomy Festival for the second time, with the aim of promoting local food, highlighting Antalya’s cuisine, and showcasing the region’s geographical indication products. The festival, which lasted for 3 days, featured exhibitions, product presentations, workshops, panels, discussions, competitions, and concerts, attracting the attention of many local and international attendees. Under the motto “From Antalya to the World,” the festival brought together famous Michelin-starred chefs, gourmets, gastronomy and tourism writers, and professionals from various sectors of the industry in Antalya. During the panels and discussions, professionals shared their knowledge and experiences, and also exchanged ideas on steps that can be taken to promote gastronomy tourism.
Signature of Mehmet Yalçınkaya on the Festival Finale
Şef Mehmet Yalçınkaya, a beloved figure from the “MasterChef Turkey” program, also met with participants on the final day of the International Food Fest Antalya Gastronomy Festival. During the discussion moderated by Sözen Group CEO Gökmen Sözen, Chef Mehmet shared his thoughts with participants on initiatives and promotions needed to popularize Antalya’s cuisine in restaurant menus. Emphasizing that local dishes are often neglected by chefs, Yalçınkaya highlighted the importance of organizing training sessions and promoting dishes from our culture.
Nursel Ergin Hosted Women’s Cooperatives Competition
Nursel Ergin, the host of the competition program “Gelinim Mutfakta” (My Daughter-in-law in the Kitchen), was among the prominent figures at the 2nd International Food Fest Antalya Gastronomy Festival. Hosting the competition among women’s cooperatives on the final day of the festival, Nursel Ergin garnered attention with her high energy. Representatives of women’s cooperatives preparing the region’s geographical indication dishes, such as Hibeş and Piyaz, competed fiercely. At the end of the competition, the jury members, including Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek, evaluated the dishes. The Anka Women’s Initiative Production and Operation Cooperative, which came first, was awarded a quarter of a gold coin.
2nd International Food Fest Antalya Gastronomy Festival Turns Antalya into a Destination for Food Enthusiasts
Speaking at the final of the 2nd International Food Fest Antalya Gastronomy Festival, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek said, “Antalya is an extremely popular city in terms of tourism. In foreign tourist visits, we are ranked 10th in the world and 1st in Europe. However, we support our producers with local development projects and aim to make our city a destination for food enthusiasts through our gastronomy-related efforts. The International Food Fest Antalya Gastronomy Festival has provided us with significant benefits in this regard. I would like to thank everyone who contributed.”
The 2nd International Food Fest Antalya Gastronomy Festival, which hosted thousands of participants, came to a close with DJ performances and a screening of the final match of the Turkish National Women’s Volleyball Team.