Executive Chef Mehmet Bilcan (Instagram A/c: chef_mehmet_bilcan) from Turkey has 1 million followers on his Instagram account. He began to put in a lot of effort at an early age, and cooking has always been one of his passions. He used the opportunities as a road map and put a lot of time and effort into it to reach his objectives.
Q.) On Instagram, you have one million followers. How do you feel?
Chef Mehmet: It goes without saying that having a million Instagram followers makes me happy and proud of my accomplishments. But in order to avoid becoming comfortable in the face of this accomplishment, I think it is vital to work harder.
Q.) How did your career in cooking begin, and what inspired you to pursue it?
Chef Mehmet: I used my masters’ ideas and concepts as a springboard for my profession. I got started by putting goals in front of myself. Of course, there were challenges at first, but I was inspired with each step. Each step was harder than the one before it. I kept myself encouraged and joyful as I moved on by thinking back to the previous stage whenever a challenge arose. I have benefited much from every bit of knowledge I have acquired, but I only did so after exercising discipline, perseverance, determination, and hard work.
Q.) What other cuisine do you enjoy cooking besides Turkish food?
Chef Mehmet: Italian and French cuisines are quite interesting to me. I astonish everyone when I serve these delights to someone who have never tried them. Of course, understanding international cuisine is essential, but I would caution anyone working in this field to avoid turning to international cuisine if they are unfamiliar with the foods of their own country. People from every culture and region can be found in the site I discovered, which is Turkey, in a city like Istanbul. I stay current by communicating with several colleagues abroad.
Q.) Which recipe or dish gave you a real sense of pride?
Chef Mehmet: The most beautiful and ideal kind of art is cooking. I prefer to prepare vegetables, meat, and dough foods because I want to bolster meat dishes with sauce and veggies. This allows me to be selfless.
Q.) What makes Turkish food distinctive?
Chef Mehmet: It has a very diverse nutritional culture that dates back to the beginning of human existence. Turkish food, which is an heir to Ottoman culture, is one of the world’s greatest cuisines. The diversity of Anatolia, brought about by coexisting with other civilizations, to the palate and visual flavours, is what makes Turkish cuisine so unique and rich. Delicious, juicily-prepared foods in copper pots that are slowly cooked are a hallmark of Turkish cuisine. Particularly, the glaze that spreads beneath similar flavours may contain elements like onions and lamb meat. Every meal in Turkish cuisine might include soups, boiled meat, and bone broth, and these dishes can hold a particularly important place as sources of health. Turkish meat dishes like shish kebab are well known around the world.
Q.) Any advice would you give someone who want to become a chef?
Chef Mehmet: If you love your job, others will admire you. because it necessitates selflessness, curiosity, and interest. I attempt to make myself selfless while performing my duties. Additionally, progress must be made by defining incremental targets.
By: Rida Khan (Aviation Author)
(Instagram A/c: aviationauthor.ridakhan )
