About

About Istanbul Food

Istanbul Food is about supporting and emphasizing the real, local, genuine food and of its people. My people, my food heroes, my esnaf, my artisans… My take of the city. Istanbul Food tells their stories, with my touch, experiences, memoirs, food and culture from the lands of Turkey.

In IstanbulFood, you will find beautifully written articles and mouthwatering photography. Istanbul Food will also guide you to authentic food in Istanbul and Turkey. My recommendations are based on my too many years of professional experience, expertise, palate, and personal preferences. After all, food is personal.

Istanbul Food does not have any sponsors, so I can write all about there is, frankly!

About Tuba Şatana

I was born to a Thessaloniki, Istanbul, and Mardin compound family. Being raised by a refined grandmother and a true gourmet mother, not to forget my father’s heritage of the gorgeous southeast tastes of Turkey, I integrate the best of all cultures within my blood. While cooking with my granny, I learned all about the fundamentals of cooking and kitchen while my mother, living on the coast of Aegean sea, garnished me with all the fine touches and refined tastes. A great way to grow up! I was lucky!

Now for the curious minds… After my graduation from Bilkent University, I worked in the kitchen and service department in many hotels as part of my training, starting my way through a successful career in the Food and Beverage industry. I participated in the pre-opening of international chain hotels, international restaurants, as well as a world acknowledged university. I was one of the first female F&B managers in the international hotel chains in Turkey.

I founded Istanbul Food in 2009. As well as writing about Turkish food and culture to local press and international media, I provide consultancy to restaurants, chefs, I teach courses in universities and gastronomy academies, managing tourism projects, alking, teaching, and traveling.

On 2019, I created Sapor Istanbul #oldschoolsymposium, emphasising food is a culture beyond having fun and feeding, it is a sociological and anthropological phenomenon that connects the lives of societies from the past to the future, that it will be taken seriously and will guide us and that we can do this by sharing.

I live in Istanbul with my son Deniz, our cats Toko and Lokum.