A land of contrasts, Turkey is one of Europe's largest countries and the influences of the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Asia can be seen and felt everywhere.  Turkey has absorbed these ideas and blended them with its own to create unique style of cooking. 
 
Turkey was at the heart of the Ottoman Empire for 600 years.  At its peak, the empire covered most of Asia Minor, parts of Arabia and much of Europe; its size and longevity meant that Turkish cooks were constantly influenced by the best elements of each diverse cuisine.  This resulted in a distinct ‘Ottoman cuisine’, which modern day tourists can still enjoy as the ruling classes of the past would have done.  Indeed, the ideas of the Ottoman Empire have come to signify decadence and archaic customs; some of the food found on the menu at a Turkish restaurant might be considered a little elaborate, but as visitors are finding out, there is substance as well as style. 
 
Modern Turkish chefs go to great efforts to ensure the best flavours are extracted from the best ingredients, and preparation is paramount.  Staple items include yoghurt, as an accompaniment to most meat dishes and some vegetarian meals such as fried eggplant.  Of course, you can expect an emphasis on seafood in the coastal towns and cities, Istanbul being a prime example.  A cosmopolitan city to the west of Turkey, it is the most popular place in the country with tourists for many reasons.  The food scene of course plays a large part in Istanbul’s reputation; the Kumkapi neighbourhood, for instance, boasts over 40 restaurants alone, all specialising in varieties of seafood. 
 
It's a difficult task combining the best of foreign influences to create a unique style of cooking, but Turkish cuisine is known for putting its own spin on the favourite recipes from its neighbouring countries.  One particular example is cakik; inspired by the Greek favourite tzatziki, the Turkish version is much thinner.  Similarly, where the Greeks have Kasseri, the Turks have kasar, a cheese comparable to cheddar.  This clever refinement of cuisine means that Ottoman food has a special appeal to food enthusiasts. 
 
What Ottoman cuisine is coming to signify is not the self-indulgent and elitist past, but the all-encompassing and forward-thinking present.  Tourists flock to Turkey to sample the delights of a cuisine that brings together centuries-old influences, whilst maintaining a distinct Turkish appeal, and there is no better time for an adventurous connoisseur to experience it for it for themselves.

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