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H.E. Lütfullah Göktaş, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the United Arab Emirates, hosted a special Turkish breakfast event in Abu Dhabi to mark World Breakfast Day, an annual occasion celebrated worldwide on the first Sunday in June, originating from Türkiye’s Van province.
Speaking at the breakfast reception, H.E. Göktaş said: “Breakfast is a cherished family moment and an important part of Turkish culture. Through this event, and others here in the UAE, we aim to highlight the value of Turkish breakfast and share this tradition with everyone.”
He added: “The dining table has long been one of humanity’s oldest forms of connection. Throughout history, it has brought people together and helped build meaningful human and cultural bonds.”
The event, attended by H
E. Onur Şaylan, Consul General of Türkiye in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, along with Mr. Ahmet Buğdaycı, Cultural and Promotion Attaché, as well as diplomatic representatives, business figures, media, content creators, and influencers, also received contributions from the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).
The annual celebration highlights the richness of Turkish culture and the diversity of its culinary heritage. Turkish cuisine is known for three key qualities: authenticity, health and sustainability. It offers a rich cultural experience that brings together fresh local ingredients, traditional recipes, time-honored cooking techniques and modern presentation.
Tradition remains at the heart of Turkish cuisine, with recipes passed down from one generation to the next, from grandmothers to mothers, and then to sons and daughters. Turkish breakfast is known for its nutritional value, generous variety and regional diversity. More than a daily meal, it is a meaningful expression of social connection, hospitality and warm family bonds.
On June 1, 2014, Van province set a Guinness World Record when 51,793 people gathered for a full breakfast at Atatürk Culture Park, near the historic Van Castle. Since then, the first Sunday in June has been celebrated annually as World Breakfast Day.
Van breakfast is especially known for its rich variety and its use of natural, locally sourced products. A traditional Van breakfast typically includes Van honey, yogurt kaymak, milk kaymak, butter, cacık, herbed cheese, braided cheese, white cheese, eggs with sucuk and kavurma, olives, murtuğa, kavut, walnut jam, rose jam, milk and cingirun.
The meal is traditionally served with samovar tea, lavash bread and aromatic Van çöreği baked in stone ovens. In summer, dishes such as yogurt, cacık and piyaz are added to the table, while in winter, honey, molasses and tahini are commonly served.