In October 2023, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, a meaningful and impactful gathering took place in Cologne, Germany. Hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Cologne, the Republic’s Centennial Celebration was held at Gürzenich, one of the city’s most historic and iconic venues, bringing together Turkish and German guests around a shared table.
The menu presented on this special evening was more than a celebratory dinner; it was a multi-layered cultural narrative. Inspired by the ancient flavours of Hatay cuisine, the specially curated menu carried Anatolia’s culture of coexistence, abundance, and collective memory onto the plates. Each dish reflected a story spanning past and present, embodying solidarity, diversity, and shared values.
The table set in Cologne for the Republic’s 100th anniversary once again demonstrated that gastronomy is not merely a culinary practice, but one of the most powerful tools for cultural diplomacy, the transmission of memory, and building connections between societies. This culinary language rising from Hatay brought the universal values of the Republic to the heart of Europe through a simple, sincere, and compelling narrative.