Hungarian chef introduces Turkish cuisine to world

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - SEPTEMBER 06: Thanks to its geography, Turkey enjoys a rich culinary culture, says a Hungarian chef who is introducing Turkish cuisine to the world with food tours of Istanbul. Speaking to Anadolu Agency during her latest tour of Istanbul with a group of about 20 Hungarians, Agnes Toth told Anadolu Agency about her admiration for Turkish cuisine and her love of Istanbul, the historic Ottoman capital and Turkey’s commercial capital. Toth who has been a culture and tourism ambassador between Turkey and Hungary for 15 years, said: "By virtue of its geography, Turkey has an incredibly rich culinary culture." Telling how she first came to Turkey as a tourist 15 years ago, Toth said: "I loved Turkish culture and language, and I decided to advance myself in these areas." After honing Turkish recipes that she started to learn while picking up the Turkish tongue, with frequent visits to Istanbul, Toth continues to get training from Turkish chiefs on the local cuisine. Explaining that she started to learn Turkish through private lessons and worked as cultural coordinator for three years after the Yunus Emre Institute (YEE) opened a branch in Hungary’s capital Budapest, Toth said: "In this process, I organized programs on Turkish culture and cuisine. I’ve done a lot of work both at the YEE and as a volunteer. After leaving the YEE, I started to write a blog about Turkish cuisine." Pointing out that Turkish and Hungarian cultures have similarities as well as differences, Toth also highlighted some features that make Turkish cuisine rich. “Each region is incredibly rich and different from each other,” she explained. “The Aegean region and southeast are different from each other and have their own characteristics. That's why I can find anything in Turkey.” (Footage by Mehmet Kara /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)