Sofra/Compass Group Turkey organized a unique event in the 10th year of the traditional Culinary Cup competition. This year's competition, organized with the theme of "Push Your Limits", showcased the creativity and passion of talented chefs from all over Turkey.

Chefs selected from across the country witnessed a unique competition at the grand finale held at Istanbul Gastronometro on December 7. Following tough regional eliminations, the finalists selected from among 5 chefs wowed the jury with their performances that pushed the boundaries of culinary arts. Gokmen Sozen, CEO of Sozen Group, Defne Ertan Tüysüzoğlu, Director of Le Cordon Bleu Türkiye, Waste-Free Kitchen Chef Özge Şahin, Content Producer and Food Engineer Özgül Coşar ve Gastronometro Instructor Executive Chef Murat ÖzipekA distinguished jury of experts in their fields meticulously examined the chefs' creativity, technical skills and storytelling abilities.

Every Plate a Manifesto: Sofra/Compass Group Türkiye Culinary Cup 2024 Borders Were Crossed

This year's Culinary Cup went beyond the traditional competition format and gave chefs the opportunity to truly show themselves. Competitors who combined pre-determined menus with their own interpretations struggled to present not only flavor but also a deep flavor story. The chefs' professional skills and unique narrative skills aimed to show how they enriched Sofra/Compass Group Turkey's corporate vision. Chefs meticulously prepared 4 portions of each recipe. Evaluation criteria included details such as the contestants' preparation process and use of ingredients, compliance with HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) rules, plate design, flavor and storytelling.

Victory Became Uğur Beko

Culinary Cup 2024, which ended with the great victory of Chef Uğur Beko from the Aegean Region, broke new ground in Turkey's culinary scene. Chef Uğur, who won the award, said, “I am happy to bring the first place to our region for the first time in 10 years. The support of my chefs and managers gave me great strength during this process. It was not easy to prepare for this competition after working hours while serving our customers at a busy pace. However, the support from the Aegean Region was always behind me today, and this also gave me a great responsibility. I knew I had to produce a good result. It was a difficult, tiring but enjoyable process and it was crowned with happiness in the end. I am a 28-year-old man, 1,90 tall; I didn't think I would cry, but I couldn't hold back my tears. The reward of all that effort, meeting the expectations of my family, loved ones and company, and also getting one step closer to my own life goals deeply affected me. This first place was a reward for all these efforts and was one of the most unforgettable moments of my life.” He expressed his feelings by saying.

The chef gave advice to next year's candidates with the words, "Everyone should definitely try to participate in this competition. You gain great experience in this process. Of course, it may seem like a difficult process. It is natural to think, 'How can I prepare while working?', but it is definitely worth sacrificing a little of your time and living this experience. Be brave, push your limits, and do not be afraid to make a difference."

Sofra/Compass Group Türkiye Chairman and CEO Nihat Kartal emphasized the importance of the competition with the following words: “This project, which we have been carrying out for 10 years, shapes the future of gastronomy culture. With the theme of 'Push Your Limits', we aimed for our chefs to reveal their creativity and potential in culinary arts. This competition is not just a competition. This event, which reflects the vision of Sofra/Compass Group Turkey, is a huge investment in the future of the gastronomy world. Each chef, by pushing their own limits, once again revealed the infinite potential of culinary arts.”

Kartal concluded his words by saying, “Regardless of the outcome of the competition, we are walking hand in hand with all our talents to grow and reach our company’s goals and to structure its future. The talent, creativity and work discipline of each one of them carries us to a better future and plays a major role in shaping the future of our company. We are also doing our best to create a fair, transparent and open culture and climate where our valuable talents can fully reveal their potential. The responsibility of being a people-oriented company is not only the business results but also the happiness and development of our employees. Therefore, we care about each of their ideas, dreams and needs.”

Source: HORECA TREND and Table/Compass Group Türkiye

The event was attended by AK Party Founder, 24th Term MP and Constitution Commission Member Belma Satır, AK Party MP Nilhan Ayan, 27th Term Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Özgül Özkan Yavuz, Former Minister of Tourism Bülent Akarcalı, TRNC Acting Undersecretary of the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Mr. Serhan Aktunç, TRNC Istanbul Consul General Fatma Demirel, TURSAB Former President Başaran Ulusoy, famous Historian and Author Sema Soykan, nutritionist Prof. Dr. Oğuz Özyaral, Gürkan Boztepe, President of the Turkish Gastronomy Tourism Association (GTD) Names such as were included.

Semih Sarıalioğlu, Chairman of the Real Estate Committee of the Turkish Gastronomy Tourism Association and CEESS Global Board of Directors, and Ceyhun Tunalı, GTD's TRNC Representative and Ceyhun Tunalı & Sons Owner, invited participants to visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in order to further strengthen cultural and commercial relations with the “Baby Homeland Cyprus”.

TRNC Gastronomy Introduced to Guests

During the event, TRNC's unique gastronomic products were served to the guests. Presentations of halloumi cheese and special cheese varieties attracted great attention. At the end of the event, halloumi cheese, which has become the symbol of TRNC, and special cheese boards were presented to the guests.

This event, organized exclusively for members of the press and GTD, aimed to draw attention to the rich gastronomic culture of the TRNC and to strengthen the ties between Türkiye and the TRNC through gastronomy.

Source: HORECA TREND and Gastronomy Tourism Association (GTD)

Tourism Investment Forum (TIF), one of the most important global platforms of tourism investments, was held in Istanbul with the theme of 'Destination Future Türkiye'.

The event hosted by the Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TTYD) was organized in cooperation with the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Investment Office, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) strategic partnership and Questex. Turkey's leading chain marina operator Setur Marinas also participated in this prestigious forum, which brought together all stakeholders of the tourism ecosystem.

TIF 2024 hosted many high-level participants this year, shedding light on the future of travel and tourism investments in different sessions. Many topics were discussed in depth, from strategic planning to financial solutions, from trends to luxury and lifestyle brands, from digitalization in tourism to climatic risks.

Setur Marinas General Manager Emre Doruk He was one of the speakers at the session titled 'From Source to Target: Ensuring Sustainability in Tourism'. Emre Doruk, who touched on the importance of the organization for Turkish tourism, also explained Setur Marinas' sustainability investments, its vision to pioneer environmentally friendly practices and future goals.

Organized by TTYD, the largest non-governmental organization of tourism investors, with 36 years of experience, TIF serves as a critical platform for networking, collaboration and financing opportunities in the tourism sector. The event brings together influential thought leaders in the tourism industry, international investors, financial institutions, banks, fund representatives, local and global travel/hotel brands, technology players, real estate developers and public institutions.

TIF not only serves as a strategic meeting point for Turkey's tourism investments on the world stage, but also carries the vision of being an organization that will shape the future of global tourism.

Source: HORECA TREND and Setur Marinas