The Chefs Chosen to Represent Turkey to the World!
The chefs selected to introduce Turkey to the world — including the beloved Somer Şef — have been announced by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Here are the 19 famous chefs who will represent us on the global stage.
İsmet Saz: He worked in several restaurants before going to America to work with renowned chefs. In 2015, he opened TOI Restaurant & Lounge in Istanbul.
Arda Türkmen: A restaurant owner in Istanbul and a beloved television personality.
Aylin Yazıcıoğlu: Former founder and head chef of Nicole Restaurant. She studied and worked in Paris.
Civan Er: Inspired by the cuisine of Hatay, he went on to work at the experimental restaurant Changa before opening Yeni Lokanta in Istanbul.
Doğa Çitçi: A specialist in Gaziantep cuisine and the coordinator of Gaziantep Kitchens, an initiative promoting regional cooking.
Fatih Tutak: He established himself as head chef at The House on Sathorn in Bangkok, where he cooks Turkish cuisine.
Kemal Demirasal: He was a professional windsurfer before becoming a chef. His experimental restaurant Alancha was born in Çeşme before expanding to Istanbul.
Maksut Aşkar: At his acclaimed restaurant Neolokal, he employs a farm-to-table approach and a minimalist aesthetic to create his cuisine.
Mehmet Gürs: One of Istanbul's most recognized chefs. He founded Mikla, a restaurant that brings together Turkish and Scandinavian cuisines.
Refika Birgül: An author and television personality who has written cookbooks and columns about Turkish cuisine.
Musa Dağdeviren: Founder of Çiya in Istanbul. He draws on ingredients from across Anatolia.
Nusret (Salt Bae): A butcher, restaurateur, and chef who founded the internationally popular steakhouse Nusr-Et. His meat preparation and seasoning technique became a viral sensation online.
Şemsa Denizsel: Her former restaurant Kantin created dishes unique to Istanbul with a simple, quality-driven aesthetic. She also has a YouTube channel.
Ömür Akkor: A gourmet chef who researches the Ottoman origins of Turkish cuisine. He traces the lost recipes of Anatolia.
Somer Sivrioğlu: He left Istanbul for Australia at the age of 25 and became a hugely beloved chef Down Under.
Vedat Başaran: A chef and food culture researcher inspired by cookbooks from the Ottoman era.
Osman Sezener: He worked in Italy, Istanbul, and the United States before returning to his roots in İzmir to open OD Urla restaurant.
Serkan Güzelçoban: The second Turkish chef to earn a Michelin star. Although he was born and raised in Germany, his family is originally from Denizli.
Ali Güngörmüş: The first Turkish chef to receive a Michelin star. He is renowned for his vision of Mediterranean cuisine and is the author of three cookbooks.
