A Sheer Delightful Turkish Cooking Demonstration
Even the early morning shower has not hindered members and guests from arriving for registration at punctual hours for the much-anticipated last major Interest Group Event of the year; nearly ninety people showed up for support of the program.
I believe everyone was deeply impressed by the thoughtful arrangement of Madame Rezzan Erikan, the wife of the Representative of the Turkish Trade Office in Taipei. As soon as we set foot into the hallway of the Shangri-la Ballroom, we were greeted by a cup of genuine Turkish coffee accompanied by a plateful of the famous Turkish Delight. On the left corner of the ballroom, there was a showcase of quite a few breathtaking copper tea wares, extravagantly patterned silver-plated items, wool kilims, silk carpets and painted ceramics from Turkey! Madame Erikan also prepared a bag of delicious dried fig and a souvenir fridge magnet for each and every one to take home.
In her welcoming speech, Madame Erikan mentioned that Turkey is located on the border between Europe and Asia, so the richness and versatility of the Turkish culture and its cuisine are very unique and adored by many. Just before the cooking demonstration performed by her house chef Ibrahim Parlak, she briefed us with a video produced by the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism, introducing some basic information about Turkish cuisine. Then, the chef and staffs of the Turkish Trade Office came onstage to show us how to make three typical household dishes – Köfte (Turkish Meatball), Sigara Böreği (Cigarette Shaped Fried Pastry), and Shepherd’s Salad. They were not too complicated to make, so Madame Erikan chose these three dishes to have the audience practice in their own kitchen. She also mentioned that there is a recent exhibition featuring Turkish kilims and ceramics currently on show at the Taipei Story House, and encouraged us all to visit Turkey, as there are direct flights from Turkish Airlines between Taipei and Istanbul, with a free-of-charge e-visa program for Taiwanese travelers.
The lucky lottery brought some excitement to our audience, and the buffet received high remarks. After this successful event, I am sure some sisters will definitely consider adding Istanbul to her winter travel plans!
By Jessica Jen-hwey Liu Chia
|
