Manti, Manti, Manti!!!

Manti are dumplings popular in most Turkic cuisines.

Manti dumplings typically consist of a spiced meat mixture, usually lamb or ground beef in a dough wrapper, and either boiled or steamed. ‘Manti’ indicates either singular or plural. Although is cooked also with potatoes in other variety.

In Turkish cuisine, although there are many different variations of manti in terms of shape and way of serving, the most praised type of Turkish manti is known as Kayseri mantisi, originally from Kayseri, Anatolian city, where we are! Kayseri mantisi is tiny and served with yoghurt, oil (caramelised with tomato paste) and seasonings. It can also be served with the water it was boiled in, and often in Kayseri it is consumed as a soup prior to the main dish. In Kayseri when a couple is engaged to be married, the mother of the groom visits the bride's house and during this visit the bride should prepare manti for her prospective mother-in-law. The smaller the manti dumplings are, the more the bride is considered to be skillful in the kitchen.

Kayseri Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate. Interview

Interview: İsmet Taymuş

1-      Can you talk about yourself briefly?

Originally I’m from Iğdır. I completed my university education at Erciyes University and graduated from department of Business. I have been working for 19 years in Kayseri as the Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism.

2- What was your job before you were the provincial director of culture and tourism of Kayseri and Why did you choose this position?

I got the chance to teach in my student years, because this was my second university in the field of basic education. But after a while I gave up teaching and I became Founder and general secretary of the Institute of Health Sciences at Erciyes University. My student life passed with social activities such as mountaineering, folk dancing, and I even took part in the environmental clubs. Because of these activities and my social life and my second education at University, when my student life ended, I was accepted to Kayseri Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism. Thus my life was to begin here.

My experience in Ramazan

Ramadan it's a really interesting time in muslims countries.

For a whole month, people who follow the tradition, don´t eat, don´t drink also water, or not smoking...de sunrise to sunset.

At about 20.13 in Kayseri the call from the mosques give the signal and dinner with family, friends. What is known as Iftar. And the city start to be crowded.

Cappadocia/Kapadokya

Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in the Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, and Niğde Provinces in Turkey.

European Voluntary Service, a new experience....

Always I liked to travel and learn about other cultures, but this might be a different way, I met the European Voluntary Service through the Internet and found a great opportunity to travel while working with a project in the country of destination. Turkey.

Everything was very easy, through the association that handled my volunteering in Spain where I come from and who acted as intermediary with the association of destination IYACA!

Everything was ready; airline ticket, passport, and contact with the association previously through Facebook ... just wait for the exact day to begin my adventure.