Eren Kaşıkçı found dead in Istanbul; investigation launched
Turkish chef Eren Kaşıkçı, the 2021 MasterChef Turkey winner known as “Kızıl Sakal”, was discovered lifeless in his Kilyos home in Istanbul on 29 July 2026 at age 37. His business partner Mikail Malkoçoğlu entered the apartment after family members could not reach him and called emergency services. Paramedics confirmed death at the scene and the body was taken for a post‑mortem examination.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened a formal investigation into the sudden death. Early medical assessments reported a strong possibility of a heart attack, but the exact cause will be determined by the forensic autopsy. Authorities have also examined his phone, which showed dozens of unanswered calls in the hours before he was found.
Kaşıkçı, who rose to fame after winning MasterChef Turkey in 2021 and later appeared in the All‑Stars series, owned the Kızıl Sakal Sandwich & Burger restaurant in Istanbul and was planning a new branch. He is survived by his wife Ecem Kaşıkçı and their young daughter Maya, whose birthday was celebrated just two days before his death. A funeral service was held in his hometown of Tokat, after a memorial at Istanbul’s Yenidoğan Cemevi.
Friends and former judges expressed deep sorrow, recalling his generosity and charitable work, while the investigation continues.
Entities: Acun Ilıcalı · Ecem Kaşıkçı · Eren Kaşıkçı · MasterChef Turkey · Maya Kaşıkçı · Mikail Malkoçoğlu · Tokat
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 18 SOURCES] Eren Kaşıkçı, age 37, was found dead at his home in Istanbul's Kilyos district on 29 July 2026. (multiple sources)
- [● 14 SOURCES] The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened a criminal investigation into Kaşıkçı’s death. (multiple sources)
- [● 3 SOURCES] His daughter Maya’s birthday was celebrated two days before his death. (multiple sources)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Initial medical assessments indicated a strong possibility that Kaşıkçı suffered a heart attack. (multiple sources)
- [● 4 SOURCES] He owned the Kızıl Sakal Sandwich & Burger restaurant in Istanbul and was planning a new branch. (multiple sources)
- [● 11 SOURCES] A funeral service was held in his hometown of Tokat after a memorial at Istanbul’s Yenidoğan Cemevi. (multiple sources)
- [● 18 SOURCES] Eren Kaşıkçı won the 2021 season of MasterChef Turkey and was popularly known as “Kızıl Sakal”. (multiple sources)
- [● 15 SOURCES] A post‑mortem autopsy was performed to determine the exact cause of death. (multiple sources)