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Turkey 25th Anniversary Grand Chapitre

Bailliage of Türkiye
Istanbul, December 13-15, 2019

Celebrating in style!
" The menu was inspired by the one served at the first Grand Chapitre 25 years ago "

To celebrate 25 years of the Chaîne in Turkey our Grand Chapitre took place in Istanbul. The three-day event began on the Friday with a visit to Topkapi Palace, lunch at Konyali restaurant, Hagia Sofia and the Grand Bazaar.

In the evening cocktails followed by a five-course dinner with high-standing culinary delights and excellent prime Turkish wines at the newly-opened Sofitel Istanbul Taksim Hotel were enjoyed by 76 national and international members.

On Saturday, sunny weather made the Bosphorus cruise very enjoyable. At 5.30pm the Induction Ceremony commenced. Inducting Officer Carl Wachtmeister, a Member of the Conseil d’Administration, had travelled from Sweden to represent President Atallah.

Carl was assisted by Bailli Délégué Mohamed Hammam, also a Member of the Conseil d’Administration and the sole remaining founding member of the Chaîne in Turkey. Ten members were awarded Commandeurs with 15 receiving their 10-year “Silver” Commandeurs. 141 members were either promoted or inducted for the first time.

Included in the list of inductions was Philippe Duamelle, Director and Head of the UNICEF Mission to Turkey. He became a Chevalier d’Honneur, a title awarded only with the approval of the President.

Then, in a separate ceremony, Bailli Délégué Mohamed Hammam inducted 95 new OMGD (Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs) members in his capacity as Chair of the International OMGD Committee.

Everyone sipped champagne cocktails as Mohamed opened the evening welcoming guests from Israel, Hungary and Sweden. He thanked Carl and presented him with a Bailliage of Turkey commemorative plaque.

The Officier Commandeur Award was presented to Beyti Güler, Member of the Conseil d’Honneur, for his 30 years of uninterrupted loyal membership beginning in 1989 before the Bailliage of Turkey was founded in 1994.

The exquisite seven-course dinner was very much enjoyed by the 300 members and guests. The pairing of superb international wines was perfect. The menu was inspired by the one served at the first Grand Chapitre 25 years ago. Swissôtel’s Executive Chef Ali Ronay and his team added their own personal touch and contemporary culinary skills.

After dinner Uğur Talayhan, General Manager of Swissôtel The Bosphorus and Regional Vice President of Accor Hotels (Luxury Brands), his Executive Assistant Manager (Food and Beverage/Spa & Sports) Ufuk Demeir, and Corporate Executive Chef Ali Ronay, as well as Assistant Director of Food and Beverage Gurkan Yalkenci, Food and Beverage Venues Manager Murat Yilmaz, and Assistant Food and Beverage Manager Metin Aykan, were all thanked and recognized by Bailli Délégué Mohamed Hammam and his National Officers, for their warm welcome, culinary excellence, and outstanding services.
 
Turkey’s 25th Anniversary Grand Chapitre concluded on the Sunday with an exclusive farewell brunch.

Yves Léon
Chargé de Presse

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