Led by Prof. Dr. Aslı Albayrak, Chair of the Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts at the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), and with the contributions of the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS) Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department (Turkish and English programs), alongside the Vocational School (VS) Culinary Arts, Pastry, and Bakery departments, the Gastronomy Festival took place on June 5 with the theme “Street Food.”
The event kicked off with the presentation of appreciation plaques to the organizing team who worked tirelessly during the planning phases of the festival. Academics, students, and organizing committee members who contributed to the advancement of gastronomy education took to the stage to receive their plaques for their dedicated efforts.
Following the plaque ceremony, prominent figures from the Turkish culinary world—Chef Erdal Aslanboğa, the operator of the famous Aslanboğa Kokoreç, and Umut Reçber, Head Chef at Migros—met with the attendees. The chefs shared their career milestones, kitchen experiences, and the significance of street food within Turkish gastronomy, allowing students to directly interact and network with industry professionals.
After the talk, a wide array of street food treats prepared in alignment with the festival's concept was distributed to the participants. In the tasting areas set up across the university campus, visitors had the opportunity to savor beloved street delicacies such as kokoreç, kumpir (stuffed baked potatoes), döner, ıslak hamburger (steamed wet burgers), corn, tavuk-pilav (chicken and rice), çiğköfte, ice cream, simit, lokma (sweet fried dough), lemonade, and traditional şerbet. The catering, which continued throughout the day, was highly acclaimed by students, academics, and guests alike.
The event saw immense participation not only from students majoring in culinary fields but also from various other departments, offering everyone a unique chance to connect with key industry leaders and dive deep into experiential gastronomy culture.
Filled with the colorful and dynamic atmosphere of street food, the Gastronomy Festival concluded as a memorable organization where participants gathered delightful memories and shared inspiring insights about the culinary world. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the academics, students, and stakeholders who contributed to making this event a grand success.
