Kitchen of the Imperial Palace

The importance of culinary art to the Ottoman Sultans is evident to every visitor to Topkapı Palace.

    The huge kitchens were housed in several build­ings under ten domes. By the 17th century some thirteen hundred kitchen staff were housed in the Palace. Hundreds of cooks, spe­cializing in different categories, such as soups, pilafs, kebabs, vegetables, fish, breads, pastries, candy and helva, syrups and jams, and bever­ages, fed as many as ten thousand people a day, and, in addition, sent trays of food to others in the city as a royal favor.

   The importance of food has also been evident in the structure of the Ottoman military elite, known as the Janissaries. The commanders of the main divisions were known as the Soupmen, other high-ranking officers included the Chief Cook, the Scullion, the Baker, and the Pancake Maker, though their duties had little to do with food. The huge cauldron used to make pilaf had a special symbolic significance for the Janissaries, and was the focal point of each divi­sion. The kitchen was at the same time the cen­ter of politics, for whenever the Janissaries demanded a change in the Sultans Cabinet, or the head of a grand vizier, they would overturn their pilaf cauldron. “Overturning the caul­dron,” is an expression still used today to indi­cate a rebellion in the ranks.

   It was in this environment that hundreds of the Sultans’ chefs, who dedicated their lives to their profession, developed and perfected the dishes of the Turkish cuisine, which was then adopted in areas from the Balkans to southern Russia, and even as far as North Africa. Istanbul was then the capital of the world and had all the prestige, so its ways were imitated. At the same time, it was supported by an enormous organi­zation and infrastructure, which enabled all the treasures of the world to flow into it. The provinces of the vast Empire were integrated by a system of trade routes with caravanserais for refreshing the weary merchants and security forces. The Spice Road, the most important fac­tor in culinary history, was under the full con­trol of the Sultan. Only the best ingredients were allowed to be traded under the strict stan­dards established by the courts.

   Guilds played an important role in the develop­ment and sustenance of the cuisine. These included hunters, fishermen, cooks, kebab cooks, bakers, butchers, cheese makers and yogurt merchants, pastry chefs, pickle makers, and sausage merchants. All of the principal trades were believed to be sacred and each guild traced its patronage to the saints. The guilds set price and quality controls. They displayed their products and talents in spectacular parades through Istanbul streets on special occasions, such as the circumcision festivities for the Crown Prince or religious holidays.

   Following the example of the Palace, all of the grand Ottoman houses boasted elaborate kitchens and competed in preparing feasts for each other as well as for the general public. In fact, in each neighborhood, at least one house­hold would open its doors to anyone who hap­pened to stop by for dinner during the holy month of Ramadan, or during other festive occasions. This is how the traditional cuisine evolved and spread, even to the most modest corners of the country.

Introduction to Turkish Cuisine A Nurturing Environment Kitchen of the Imperial Palace A repertoire of Food Grains, Bread to Borek Grilled Meats Vegetables Mezes Sea Foods Real Story of Sweets Beverages Food Protocol Food and Spirituality Contemporary Concerns