AMBASSADOR’S FAVORITE: MEZE
ATATÜRK’S VISION BROUGHT QUALITY FISH TO ANKARA
German Ambassador Sibylle Katharina Sorg, who began her posting in Ankara in August last year, has quickly developed a strong appreciation for Turkish cuisine. Over the past year, she has explored restaurants not only in the capital but also in other cities she visited for official duties. Her favorites are meze.
M. FERHAT YÜKSEL
At Afitap Restaurant, famous for its meze, Ambassador Sorg joined Chef Emre Tunca in the kitchen to prepare stuffed vine leaves, shrimp gözleme, and salmon rolls. Speaking exclusively to NEFES, she also offered a fresh perspective on the long-standing debate over where to find the best fish in Türkiye:
“When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk moved the capital from Istanbul to Ankara, he ensured that fish of the same quality would be brought here so that civil servants could maintain their dining habits. That’s why the quality of fish in Ankara is still the same as in Istanbul today,” she said.
Before coming to Türkiye, Sorg said she had already heard many good things about Turkish food:
“I was well informed that Turkish cuisine was wonderful, and wherever I went, I came across fantastic restaurants and amazing recipes. Of course, meze is an important part of this, as we see here today. Another thing I find extremely important is the consistently high-quality meat. You also have wonderful bread, which reminds me of one similarity between Turkish and German cuisines. Although our breads are different, both nations share a passion for bread. And, just like the Germans, Turks value high-quality meat. To me, that’s a nice parallel.”
“MY FAVORITES ARE MEZE AND HOME-STYLE DISHES”
Ambassador Sorg admitted she doesn’t have a sweet tooth, preferring more traditional flavors:
“It’s hard to choose, because it’s such a difficult decision. I’m not very fond of desserts, so they’re not my favorites. But I’d say meze and the home-style dishes you find in traditional restaurants, lamb, beef, and plenty of vegetables cooked in big pots are what I love most. What makes meze so special is enjoying them together. One or two meze alone aren’t enough; they need to be eaten in combination. I don’t mean mixed on the plate, but shared as a whole. That’s what tastes another level.”
“COOKING IS VERY RELAXING FOR ME”
As a diplomat, Sorg often attends official events where food is central. She explained:
“Everyone has an image of diplomats constantly dining, and it’s true, our profession involves frequent meals with partners, friends, and business representatives. That’s why I really value the moments when I can eat and cook at home. Cooking is very relaxing for me, it’s one of my hobbies. Whenever possible, I prepare family recipes or combine dishes I’ve learned in the different countries where I’ve served. It gives me both joy and peace. And baking cakes is a very German habit of mine. I often bake, especially on weekends or on rare evenings when we suddenly have some free time.”
GERMAN CUISINE
Sorg pointed out that German cuisine varies greatly by region:
“Cuisines develop in every country, so it’s hard to generalize about German food; it changes from one region to another, even from village to village. People often say, ‘Our bread is different from yours, our sausages are different.’ Still, when people think of German cuisine, they imagine lots of bread, plenty of meat and sausages, beer, and perhaps pork knuckle. These remain very popular among tourists visiting Germany.”
“THE DÖNER DEBATE WILL NEVER END”
Ambassador Sorg also highlighted the remarkable success of döner in Germany:
“Bread and meat are central to both German and Turkish cuisines, and döner combines them perfectly. Its success in Germany has been extraordinary. When it first appeared, it became an instant hit, spreading first in big cities and later replacing Currywurst. Today, döner is eaten more than currywurst or even hamburgers as fast food. You can find a döner shop in almost every small town. Nobody expected that, but it remains a huge success. Of course, döner in Germany is different from Türkiye. It’s popular in both countries, but the debate over which one is better will never end. That’s actually a good thing; it gives people something to talk about for hours. As a diplomat, I won’t say which is better. But you can find excellent döner in both countries.”
“ANKARA NEEDS BETTER PROMOTION”
Ambassador Sorg said she enjoys living in Ankara but noted the city’s lack of promotion:
“I find Ankara very comfortable to live in. With so many universities, the city feels young and lively. It’s also safe. I’m very happy here, and our embassy garden provides a wonderful atmosphere. My only criticism is about promotion. Before coming, we tried to find a proper travel guide, but we couldn’t find one in German or English. The city’s history—the Temple of Augustus, Ulus, and the Citadel remains too hidden. A good guide is essential, because Ankara needs more visitors.”
ATATÜRK’S VISION BROUGHT QUALITY FISH TO ANKARA
Ambassador Sorg shared one of the first stories she heard upon arriving in Türkiye:
“When Atatürk moved the capital from Istanbul to Ankara, he ensured that fish of the same quality was supplied here so civil servants could keep eating what they were used to. That’s why the quality of fish in Ankara is still the same as in Istanbul today. It was a very wise decision—when moving the capital, you had to make sure people could at least enjoy the food they were familiar with.”
“THE HARDEST PART OF TURKISH IS UNDERSTANDING THE ANSWER”
Having taken Turkish lessons before and after arriving, Sorg described the challenges:
“Turkish is much harder than I expected. I studied before coming and continued here, and I can learn the basics, but I’ll never reach the level where I can speak properly. That’s sad, because I would like to know more. The hardest part is usually understanding the answer. In other languages, I’d grasp it more easily. But in Turkish, suffixes can come in the middle of words, which is very confusing for a beginner. Still, I won’t give up. I’ll keep saying something in Turkish when meeting people. But honestly, I know I won’t be able to fully master the language.”
“MY FAVORITE WORD IS ‘KOLAY GELSİN’”
She concluded by sharing her favorite Turkish expression:
“My favorite word is ‘kolay gelsin.’ These two words reflect a whole outlook on life. In German, no one would just say something like that to someone working—it would sound ironic. But here, it’s such a genuine wish. That’s why I love it.”
“FOOD IS COMMON GROUND”
Ambassador Sorg emphasized that food is the strongest cultural link between Germans and Turks:
“Today we talked about food. Food is a wonderful way to celebrate common ground. There’s nothing easier than coming together around good food. So enjoy Turkish and German dishes together, it makes everything easier.”
