ISTANBUL: Chef Fatih Tutak, of Istanbul’s acclaimed restaurant Turk Fatih Tutak, the first Turkish restaurant to be awarded two Michelin stars will take the helm as chef director at Gallada Restaurant and Topside Bar from early June 2023. This will be a collaboration with The Peninsula Istanbul which opened in Istanbul on 14 February 2023.
The Turkish born chef has created menus that celebrate a contemporary Turk-Asian cuisine, inspired by Fatih’s professional journey from Turkey through China to SouthEast Asia, and back. His dishes are refined, and intuitively perceptive with a focus on the myriad culinary skills and techniques shared along the way.
Located on the hotel’s stunning rooftop, boasting some of the most coveted views over the Bosphorus, Gallada will consist of a main dining room, outdoor terrace, and private dining rooms. On the floor above, the Topside Bar will reflect the kitchen’s philosophy. Offering premium spirits, drinks and cocktails, these will be inspired by the stories, tales, aromas and spices from along the historic trade routes of The Silk Road.
In addition, there will be a series of music programmes during the evenings, creating a sense of community among regulars and visitors alike and setting the tone for the ultimate in experiential destinations.
The Peninsula Istanbul, which opened on 14 February 2023, provides a remarkable showcase of hospitality within Galataport, a new waterfront revitalisation project featuring museums, restaurants, and boutiques in the harbour district, with easy access to Istanbul’s main attractions. Galata Tower, Galata Bridge, The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) and Topkapi Palace are all within walking distance.
The 177 room accommodation (comprising 138 guest rooms and 39 suites) are distributed across four buildings, three of which are protected historical landmarks dating to the early 20th century and have been carefully renovated.
Born and raised in Istanbul, Fatih Tutak was inspired by his mother’s home cooking from a young age. This interest became a passion and developed into his dream of becoming a chef. After his apprenticeship with Paul Pairet in Istanbul and working in some of the city’s top luxury hotels and restaurants, Fatih had the opportunity to move abroad, with stop-overs in Qingdao, Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore, Denmark and Hong Kong.
Some of his experiences included the world-renowned restaurant NOMA in Copenhagen with René Redzepi and 3 Michelin star Nihonryori Ryugin in Tokyo with Seiji Yamamoto. A move to Thailand in 2015 saw him open The Dining Room of The House on Sathorn in Bangkok as Head Chef.
In just two years, he rose to Director of Culinary Operations and led his talented team to international accreditation, both in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (No.36 in 2017) and a Michelin Plate in the Thailand Guide 2018-19.
He returned home in February 2019 and opened TURK Fatih Tutak in December 2019. Through his in-depth research of historical cooking techniques, Fatih showcases a clear understanding of the country’s finest produce, creating dishes with playful imagination and harnessing each ingredient to the best of its capacities. Fatih aims to modernise what Turkish cuisine is and can be, pushing the boundaries and preconceived notions of his country’s culinary output. In 2022, the restaurant was awarded 2 stars in the inaugural edition of the MICHELIN Guide Istanbul.
Read the Food and Wine Gazette interview with Fatih Tutak here.
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