ISLAMABAD, May 22: The Turkish Embassy in Islamabad celebrated Turkish Cuisine Week 2026 with a dinner highlighting Türkiye’s culinary heritage under this year’s theme, “The Heritage Table.”

The event was hosted by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pakistan Irfan Neziroğlu at the Turkish Embassy Residence on May 20. It was part of a global celebration being held from May 21 to 27 across Türkiye and at Turkish diplomatic missions and cultural centres worldwide.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye announced “The Heritage Table” as the official theme for this year’s Turkish Cuisine Week. The theme focuses on the cultural stories, traditions and shared memories preserved through Turkish food.

Held under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, the annual celebration presents Turkish cuisine as a living cultural heritage shaped by centuries of migration, rituals, traditions and shared experiences.

Speaking at the dinner, Ambassador Neziroğlu said Turkish Cuisine Week provides an opportunity to share the spirit of Turkish hospitality and cultural heritage with people in Pakistan.

He said the dining table, or “sofra” in Turkish, is one of the oldest symbols of togetherness and reflects the warmth, healthy traditions, zero-waste practices and cultural depth of Turkish cuisine.

Featured dishes for this year include mantı, tandır, dolma, baklava and helva, each representing different aspects of Türkiye’s culinary identity.

Tourism and cultural authorities said Turkish Cuisine Week continues to promote Türkiye’s gastronomic traditions and strengthen cultural exchange through events hosted around the world.

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