The effects of migrant kitchen staff on Turkish cuisine

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 214 - 226, 03.01.2026

Duran Cankül , Hasan Samet Tandoğan

https://doi.org/10.48119/toleho.1703311

Abstract

Culinary culture, formed through centuries of accumulated knowledge and practice, is one of the most enduring reflections of a society’s identity. Migration plays a significant role in shaping this accumulation, as immigrants carry their culinary traditions to new geographies, often blending them with local practices to create hybrid forms. This study aims to explore whether immigrant kitchen workers in Turkiye influence Turkish culinary culture. Using a qualitative research design, data were analyzed through descriptive and content analysis methods. The findings reveal that immigrant kitchen staff hold differing views on work culture, kitchen organization, and the potential degeneration of culinary traditions, yet they show a strong consensus on preserving their own cultural heritage.

Keywords

Migration , Migrants , Migrant Kitchen Staff , Culinary Culture , Turkish Culinary Culture

Ethical Statement

Ethical permission was obtained from Eskişehir Osmangazi University Social and Human Sciences Human Research Ethics Committee with the decision numbered 2025-03 dated 05.02.2025.

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