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If you want to eat greens, follow the goat
A round of applause for the organisers of Bodrum OTfest. "Ot", meaning grass, is also the word used for any greens and this weekend we joined together in celebration of the edible feast that can be foraged around our peninsula.
TV pundit and chef Wilco Van Herpen and "Secrets of the Turkish Kitchen" author Angie Mitchell bond over Angie's book
It was an opportunity for foodies to meet up
Bodrum Mayor, Mehmet Kocadon with his hand on the shoulder of vineyard owner and blogger, Mehmet Vuran.
It was a chance for Bodrum Bloggers to speak to each other.
Mehmet Vuran is a font of all knowledge about wine, grapes, vines and wild plants. I'm lucky to live in the next village along from him, so follow all his horticultural and viticultural tips
Perfect festival setting by the sea.
The younger visitors had space to run around and fly kites.
There were plenty of raw materials on offer to take home to cook
Or local specialities to taste. Wild herb muffins took my fancy.
Musa from Mumcular
I caught up with old friends. Musa helped build our house over 20 years ago.
Raşit
Raşit lives just down the lane from us. Still smiling despite a chronic illness, he has taken up making wooden spoons since his diagnosis.
The judges
Reputations were at stake as contestants vied to produce the most innovative wild greens recipe.
Look how well wrapped up we all are. It was 26 degrees C, but being the beginning of April, no one risks catching a chill and if I'd known I would end up being interviewed on TRT news, I would certainly have made a bit more effort getting ready.
what an absolutely wonderful festival...for greens, maybe if we had more OTfest in this country...people would eat more greens!!!
ReplyDeleteIf foraging was taught in schools, we'd all be a bit healthier
DeleteOt is where it's at....
ReplyDeleteWell said.
DeleteThat sounds a really well organised event.
ReplyDeleteI really must get back to Turkey one day!
You are about as far away as it is possible to get at present.
DeleteIt looks like they combined the two necessary ingredients for successful meals: natural products and good company! All with a beautiful background and sunshine to boot- I'd sign up immediately :-) Is that beautiful dog yours?
ReplyDeleteYes Jake is mine. He enjoyed the day as a constant stream of children (and adults) wanted to stroke him.
DeleteAbsolutely wonderful festival - and what a superb setting too! Really inspired. Bodrum is a place to be, especially if you like good, healthy, local food. The Spanish are not good at eating green things! Axxx
ReplyDeleteReally - you amaze me. I would have thought the Spanish over run with lovely greenery to eat.
DeleteThey are - they just don't seem to eat it. Cabbage, it would appear, if eaten, needs to be cooked for at least two hours...
DeleteI love these events, unfortunately they happen very rarely here in Antalya. TRT, have some excellent programs, where they travel to different areas within Turkey and look at the food culture. Now it appears you will be on one of them Annie, I will watch carefully:)
ReplyDeleteToo late, it was only on the news.
DeleteI was fortunate to be asked to attend this Festival as both a Judge and to Chef. Extremely well organised event as you expect in Turkey.. Looking forward to next year. Kadri Memis
DeleteThanks for dropping in. I'd like to hear about a Turkish chef on a Greek island.
Delete. . wonderful, innovative idea - you won't catch Dalyan being progressive like that.
ReplyDeleteThere's another food event coming up in a couple of days.
DeleteB to B, Interviewed on TRT news?! How wonderful. The fabulous greens of Turkey are one reason we love this time of year. What a great idea to have a special event to celebrate them. Move over goats!
ReplyDeleteI luckily missed the news but a friend rang my husband to say it had been on.
DeleteI can imagine how enjoyable this event must have been, and lovely weather too. An interview on TRT News? Ooh...fame at last :-)
ReplyDeleteI was chatting to Musa when I had a microphone shoved under my nose, so I probably came across as a gabbling idiot.
DeleteI'm sure you came across as urbane and well-informed. Pity it's not on You Tube!
ReplyDeleteYou can't be urbane in a silly hat.
DeleteWhat a marvellous idea for a festival and with such lovely weather and setting. You look fine and I'm sure you coped admirably with the instant interview. 26C and wearing all those clothes! The mind boggles......
ReplyDeleteI find it funny when the first tourists arrive in Bodrum in their shorts and T-shirts and all the locals are still in fleeces.
DeleteWonderful idea to celebrate greens - and what a great temperature!- loved the sound of the herbs muffin : )
ReplyDeleteSavoury muffins are an idea I will explore.
DeleteLooks like you all had a lovely time. Love the pictures!
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice day out and finished with a beer in a seafront restaurant.
DeleteDear Annie, thanks so much for the photographs. They really set the scene and I liked meeting your neighbors--near and far. Here in the United States, we are returning to green also with more and more people buying locally grown veggies and fruits. It feels good to help neighbors by buying their produce. It's not only economically sound to do so, but it's good for our own bodies and for the welfare of the planet. Peace.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear Spring has arrived for you
DeleteGreat photo's Annie - Jake looks like he's growing much bigger. Hope he'll fit in the van for our famous five adventures! x
ReplyDeleteHe is a bruiser now. Might have to follow your van in the car.
DeleteHow lovely and how terribly civilised. Would love to be able to identify the hedgerow Ot, especially the wild asparagus! I can however find horseradish in the UK :-)
ReplyDelete