Van Gastronomy Festival Highlights 27 Heritage Food Sites

The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism organized the Van Culture Road Festival, featuring a project called “27 Lezzet Noktası” (27 Taste Points). The initiative showcased a range of traditional Van dishes – from the famed Van breakfast and kelodoşa to herb cheese, Norduz lamb, pearl catfish and kavut – across designated stops that attracted large numbers of visitors. The influx of tourists provided a noticeable boost to local businesses and helped promote the region’s millennia‑old culinary legacy.

Television presenter and academic Asuman Kerkez, who hosted the event, emphasized that Van’s food culture reflects a continuous heritage dating back to the Urartian civilization, highlighting the region’s diverse grains, herbs, dairy products and unique livestock. She noted that the project also moves home‑cooked specialties onto restaurant menus, expanding their reach beyond the province and supporting the visibility of local producers year‑round.