Gastronomy

Pistachio is a passion for the people of Gaziantep, and the city is surely Turkey's capital of pistachios where most dishes, either savory or sweet, take their generous share of the greenest nut. The end of the summer is the period when pistachio pickers constantly check the groves for the ideal harvest time.

Three colors constitute the traffic lights: Red, yellow and green. These three colors are also indicators of spring in Turkey. A plate of red cherries, yellow loquats and greengages has an unquestionable place at a spring table. This wonderful trio of fruits adorns tables in an inseparable combination often served instead of dessert, presented with a few ice cubes to emphasize juicy freshness.

The listing of a southeastern Turkish city on the Creative Cities Network of the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) in gastronomy has been hailed at an event in Istanbul.