Chef Şemse Gökalp is creating a cookbook to preserve the culinary traditions of Hatay, Turkey, following devastating earthquakes [1].
The effort seeks to safeguard a regional identity that was nearly erased when the disaster destroyed numerous restaurants and cultural sites. By documenting these recipes, Gökalp aims to ensure that the flavors and techniques of the region survive the physical loss of its infrastructure.
The preservation project began after the earthquakes that struck in 2023 [1]. Gökalp worked to salvage recipes from the rubble of the province, transforming personal grief into a project intended to create a lasting legacy for the community [2].
Hatay is known for its diverse food culture, but the 2023 disaster caused widespread destruction of the local food heritage [1]. The cookbook serves as a repository for dishes that might otherwise have been lost as families and businesses were displaced.
Gökalp's work focuses on the intersection of memory and taste. The process involves gathering fragmented records and oral histories to reconstruct a complete picture of Hatay's gastronomic identity [2].
This project comes as the region continues to recover from the structural damage caused by the 2023 events [1]. The resulting book is intended to be more than a collection of instructions; it is a record of survival and cultural endurance.
“Chef Şemse Gökalp is compiling a cookbook to safeguard Hatay’s culinary traditions.”
The preservation of culinary heritage in Hatay represents a form of intangible cultural recovery. While physical reconstruction of buildings is a primary focus of disaster relief, the loss of traditional knowledge can lead to a permanent erosion of regional identity. Gökalp's cookbook acts as a cultural archive, ensuring that the social and historical fabric of the province is maintained through its food.
