Syrian cuisine

Cyprus' iconic halloumi cheese remains a protected designation of origin (PDO) product after the European Union granted a crucial five-year grace period to comply with production specifications.

The decision, published in a new European regulation, provides Cypriot producers with breathing room until 2029 to adjust their practices to meet PDO requirements.

The Greek gastronomy and travel writers visited Turkey's southeastern Gaziantep province to watch the making of the world-famous Turkish dessert of baklava.     

Middle Eastern specialty pizza Lahmacun or Lahmajoun.

The Street Food & Tunes festival at Bios on Sunday, November 18, is inspired by the concept of a Mediterranean brunch menu and all proceeds will go toward the Merima charity for children and teenagers. Menu highlights include fried cauliflower with tartar sauce and tahini and date smoothies. Doors are open from noon to 6 p.m.

Bios, 84 Pireos, Metaxourgeio, tel 210.342.5335

Kebab shops, pastry makers, liver sellers and, of course, baklava sellers seem to be in a competition to whet visitors' appetites. Walking on the narrow, meandering streets of the city that covers its worn-out appearance with a new face, makes one feel like solving a puzzle step by step. 

The Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality will tell the history of its most famous taste, pistachio, at a new museum. The pistachio-shaped museum will display the history and process of pistachios before they arrive on the shelf. 

An organic compote project that made it to the finals on a show on the state-run TRT called "Do you have an idea?" has caused commotion in the last couple of days.

A 78-meter-long künefe dessert was prepared on July 23 for an event held to commemorate the 78th year the southern border province of Hatay, the dessert's homeland, joined Turkey. 

Some 1.5 tons of the heavy dessert was eaten in 20 minutes by participants.  

He came to Greece alone at the age of 16 after having lied to his parents. "I knew then that I wanted to live in Athens," says Stephen Akehurst, now 38, as he welcomes me into a beautifully renovated space in the Greek capital, where he teaches Greek cooking to dozens of travelers every day.

Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul's AzzuR Restaurant will offer a distinctive fast-breaking (iftar) buffet highlighting the rich heritage of Turkish and Ottoman cuisine to the accompaniment of live "fas?l" music for Ramadan between June 18 and July 16.