An ‘Exclusive Prelude to the ‘Flavours of Turkiye’ – Opening Cocktails of the Flavours of Turkiye was held at the Tiki Bar, Shangri-La Colombo on August 1.
(From L) Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Sri Lanka Semih Lütfü Turgut, General Manager of Shangri-La Colombo, Herve Duboscq and Country Director, Sri Lanka and Maldives for Turkish Airlines, Fatih Bozkurt
The delightful evening hosted by General Manager of Shangri-La Colombo, Herve Duboscq, in collaboration with Turkish Airlines, was graced by Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Sri Lanka Semih Lütfü Turgut, and Country Director Sri Lanka and Maldives for Turkish Airlines, Fatih Bozkurt,
Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Sri Lanka Semih Lütfü Turgut, while appreciating Shangri-La Colombo for hosting such a remarkable event to highlight the unique and flavorful Turkish cuisine, noted that the visitors to Turkey has increased from about 10 million in 2000 to 49 million last year, despite the adverse effects posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“These two figures prove that Turkish gastro-diplomacy has been a great success and thanks to our efforts to raise the profile of our nation’s cuisine, Turkey,” he said.
“Turkey was one of the most visited countries in the world where the demand for Turkish cuisine has grown. For travellers, getting to know the local foods and joining in with culinary traditions is one of the best ways to deepen your knowledge and enrich your experience,” Ambassador Turgut added.
General Manager of Shangri-La Colombo Herve Duboscq said that the hotel is excited to bring the ‘Flavours of Türkiye’ to Colombo.
Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Sri Lanka Semih Lütfü Turgut, his wife and son with the two chefs from Istanbul.
“This festival is a unique opportunity for our guests to experience the true essence of Turkish cuisine, crafted by two incredibly talented chefs from Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul. Their expertise and passion for traditional Turkish flavours will create an unforgettable dining experience, and we are proud to present this culinary journey to our guests,” he added.
At the event, guests enjoyed engaging conversations and a taste of unique Turkish cuisine and hospitality. It was designed to strengthen the cultural ties between Sri Lanka and Turkey, highlighting the value of this meaningful cultural and culinary exchange.
Chef Salih and Chef Mehmet Ali from Shangri-La, Bosphorus, Istanbul celebrated for their expertise in Turkish gastronomy, put their talents on display during ‘Flavours of Türkiye.’ Chef Salih Demir is known for his commitment to culinary excellence and celebrated for his skills at Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul, while Chef Mehmet Ali Dönmez is recognised for his extensive knowledge and passion for traditional Turkish cooking.
“Flavours of Türkiye” – an extravaganza of Turkish food and culture which commenced on August 2 at Shangri-La Colombo will end today.
