A Major Contribution from Mayor Büyükkılıç to Kayseri’s Gastronomy Tourism
With its prestigious project, the Culinary Arts Center, which aims to showcase Kayseri’s ancient culinary heritage on the global stage, the Metropolitan Municipality is ushering in a new era in gastronomy. Realized through the visionary leadership of Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç, this center is set to become a hub of attraction for education, tourism, and cultural promotion.
Located within the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Nation’s Garden, the center—poised to become Turkey’s newest hotspot in gastronomy tourism—has already begun drawing the attention of visitors even before its doors open.
Mayor Büyükkılıç visited the Culinary Arts Center together with the Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and AK Party Kayseri MP Hulusi Akar, AK Party Central Decision and Executive Board Member Dursun Ataş, AK Party Kayseri Provincial Chairman Hüseyin Okandan, MPs Murat Cahid Cıngı and Bayar Özsoy, party members, and district mayors.
Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç emphasized that the Culinary Arts Center, which will carry Kayseri’s centuries-old culinary heritage into the future, has already garnered great interest even before its official opening.
"We Are Very Close to Introducing Anatolia’s Unique Flavors to the World"
Mayor Büyükkılıç said, “We are now counting the days for this special center that will become the heart of Kayseri’s gastronomy. We are very close to introducing Anatolia’s unique flavors to the world.”
Highlighting that they are elevating Kayseri cuisine—which carries the taste imprints of a 6,000-year history and dozens of civilizations—to a new level, Büyükkılıç emphasized that the center will help solidify Kayseri’s position in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.
Mayor Büyükkılıç said, “We are on the national list of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network. We worked on what needs to be done to move from the temporary list to the permanent one. Here, we will both taste the dishes and offer training in practice areas under the guidance of our chefs.”
The center will be more than just a gastronomy venue—it will serve as a living showcase of Kayseri’s culinary traditions. Young chefs will receive hands-on training under the supervision of master chefs, and visitors will have the chance to both taste this rich heritage and witness the stories behind the cuisine.
Constructed on a 2,000-square-meter area within the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Nation’s Garden, the high-quality facility will feature a restaurant, practical kitchen classrooms, workshops, and training halls, drawing attention with its comprehensive offerings.
