Anatolian Cultures And Food Festival April 2, 2009

Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival, which will take place April 2nd to 5th at the Orange County Fairgrounds, is one of the largest of its kind and will celebrate the cultures, cuisines and history of Anatolia (modern day Turkey).

The sets will recreate a series of arches and five major cities representing the civilizations that once flourished in Anatolia. They were constructed in Istanbul over a six-month period by a team of 50 carpenters and craftsmen, under the guidance of historians and archeologists. The team used 60 tons of steel, 20,000 square meters of vinyl and other materials to recreate landmark structures ranging from Rumi’s Museum in Konya, the Akhdamar Armenian Church in Van and the Aspendos Theater in Antalya. There will also be a large-scale reconstruction of the Troyan Horse. Each set will also feature 3D graphics and photographs, along with more than 500 pages of documents translated from manuscripts and other sources.
In the evenings, there will be live concerts at the main stage, along with whirling dervish and folk dance performances, movies and talks, while at booths reminiscent of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar festival-goers will be able to savor authentic foods and purchase crafts and other products. At a replica of the historic Ahmet III fountain regional drinks such as ayran (a yoghurt-drink) and juices will be available, and volunteers wearing authentic costumes will greet visitors under the arches.

Another highlight will be the handmade unleavened breads typical of the whole of Anatolia. A group of women specializing in this are traveling to the festival with their rolling pins ready to feed the hungry festivalgoers. There will also be a soup stand serving comfort foods typical of Anatolian kitchens, such as tarhana, made from a paste of cracked wheat and yoghurt dried in the sun and cooked in a broth.

Seyidoglu is one of two top makers deserts in Turkey, will have a variety of baklavas and other pastries on hand to sweeten the palates while Brooklyn-based Masal Café has reserved five stands and will offer customers the classic Turkish coffee and other beverages. There will also be a selection of lesser-known syrup-based desserts and puddings that once graced Ottoman tables.

Official Website: http://www.anatolianfestival.org