Turkish Cuisine Week runs May 21–27 Bangkok

Türkiye’s Embassy in Bangkok used Turkish Cuisine Week to stage a reception and cooking-focused events in the Thai capital as part of the annual May 21–27 promotion of the country’s food culture. The 2026 edition is running under the theme “The Heritage Table,” according to the official Turkish Cuisine Week site. (turkiyetoday.com) Coverage from Türkiye Today and Thai state broadcaster NBT World showed the Bangkok program included a May 22 reception and a workshop at The Food School Bangkok. May 21 to May 27 marks the fifth edition of Turkish Cuisine Week worldwide, the campaign website says. The initiative is presented as an annual showcase of Türkiye’s culinary heritage, with this year’s theme centered on shared food traditions, memory and regional recipes. (turkishcuisineweek.com) ### What exactly happened in Bangkok? May 22 was the date of the best-documented Bangkok event: a reception organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Bangkok, Türkiye Today reported. The guest list included senior Thai officials, diplomats, international media representatives and figures from business and social circles, according to the report. (turkiyetoday.com) Bangkok also hosted a culinary workshop at The Food School Bangkok, NBT World reported. That event was described as part of the same May 21–27 program and focused on Aegean dishes prepared in a class format. (turkishcuisineweek.com) ### What is “The Heritage Table” supposed to highlight? “The Heritage Table” is the 2026 theme for Turkish Cuisine Week, according to the official campaign site. The site says the theme highlights “stories, memories, culture, traditions, and heritage” embedded in a shared culinary heritage. The official site also says Turkish Cuisine Week is intended to present cuisine shaped by long-running social and cultural traditions. (turkiyetoday.com) It describes the broader campaign as part of an effort to share Turkish food culture internationally. ### Who appeared at the Bangkok events? Emine Erdogan, Türkiye’s first lady, appeared by video message at the Bangkok reception, Türkiye Today reported. (thainews.prd.go.th) The report said her message stressed preserving and promoting Türkiye’s culinary heritage as part of cultural identity. Julide Kayihan, identified by Türkiye Today as Türkiye’s ambassador to Bangkok, addressed guests at the reception. “Turkish cuisine is being promoted in the best possible way here, and our guests are very pleased,” Kayihan said, according to the report. (turkishcuisineweek.com) Muammer Ayar, identified by NBT World as the chef at the Turkish Embassy in Bangkok, led the “Turkaegean Cooking Class.” NBT World said participants included Thai celebrities, beauty queens and media personalities. ### What food was actually served and taught? Su boregi, lamb shank, stuffed vine leaves known as yaprak sarma, carrot mezesi, sekerpare and baklava were served at the May 22 reception, Türkiye Today reported. (turkiyetoday.com) The outlet described the menu as a curated selection of traditional dishes. Mücver, karides güveç and incir uyutması were among the dishes taught in the Bangkok cooking class, NBT World said. (turkiyetoday.com) The same report said guests later ate those dishes along with tarhana, zeytinyağlı pırasa and ıspanaklı börek prepared by Chef Ayar. (thainews.prd.go.th) ### Why did the Bangkok workshop focus on the Aegean? NBT World said the Bangkok workshop emphasized Aegean flavors this year. The report described the regional menu as built around ingredients such as artichokes, zucchini blossoms, herbs, seafood and olive oil. The Thai broadcaster also said the event presented Turkish cuisine as communal, with an emphasis on cooking and dining together. (turkiyetoday.com) That description matched the official campaign’s broader framing of culinary heritage as shared and intergenerational. ### What comes next in the program? May 27 is the end date for the 2026 Turkish Cuisine Week program, according to the official campaign site and NBT World. (thainews.prd.go.th) The Bangkok events were part of that weeklong schedule, with the official site continuing to carry the campaign theme and related material during the run of the program. (turkishcuisineweek.com)