CHOCOLATE DESIGN

In the past weeks, I attended the CHOCOLATE DESIGN WORKSHOP upon the invitation of my designer friend Gökçe Kırımlı.

The city where I have lived, designed and produced for 37 years; ISTANBUL. My source of inspiration. Over the years, it has always made me curious, excited, happy, angry and sad. It has inspired many of the ideas and products I have designed.

CHOCOLATE When it comes to design, of course the first thing that came to my mind was Istanbul .

My ISTANBUL Chocolates;

• Istanbul; MARTI.
• Historical peninsula; THEODORA'S NIPPLE.
• Karakoy; CELEBRATION.
• Bosphorus; LEAF OF THE PURPLE.
• Istanbul; MARTI is everywhere. The companions of the side and back of the ferry on the Bosphorus. The dance of the water that divides the city in two with its many different colors. The ones waiting for dry bread on the balconies of our houses. Every moment  What kind of friendship do we have with these birds that are with us? I can't imagine an Istanbul where I don't see seagulls and hear their voices. Please don't forget that you should buy seagulls in 1 SIMIT on a ferry trip from Europe to Asia or vice versa.

• Historical Peninsula; THEODORA'S NIPPLE. Istanbul; Historical Peninsula, a region that I have enjoyed exploring every inch of for years. An open-air museum where you can walk and work. Or to put it differently; a large kitchen. A huge kitchen where I bring my designs to life. This is such a kitchen; from Byzantium to the Ottoman Empire, to the Republic of Turkey.  continues to hold history within layer upon layer. When I say history, the first thing that comes to mind is the Byzantine period; for me, it is Empress Theodora. A woman whose life I admire the more I read about her. 

• Karaköy; CELEBRATION. If I wanted to give Karaköy a color; I would say MAROON. Karaköy's magnificent buildings and production workshops in the back streets. With its lamps, various metal and wood workshops; you can enter in the morning and walk away with a product in your hand in the evening or in 1-2 days. And fishermen on the beach; various places to eat and drink. When you walk a little further inland, all those narrow streets invite me to celebrate life. Living by celebrating every day. Designing, producing, eating, making  and life with our loved ones  sharing. Celebrating is important. And magnificent; Galata Tower and its surroundings: always the feeling of red wine. A red wine that you will get various dried fruit flavors and smells as you drink it, with intensity and richness. When you continue to walk patiently, when you start to discover its contents, it offers hidden flavors. A plump glass to CELEBRATE life in Karaköy.

• The Bosphorus; THE LEAF OF THE PURPLE; Undoubtedly; this winding water separating two continents is the most important place of the city; its HEART. Two continents and one city. I can't get enough of watching the colors it offers me at every hour of the day and in different seasons. Years ago, for the first time, I listened to the stories of the Bosphorus mansions with Murat Belge's tour. Later, my beloved  I have participated in the tours prepared by Saffet Emre Tonguç several times.  In these trips, which I can listen to again and again without getting bored with their wonderful narrations; the colors of the Bosphorus, especially in the spring months; the JUDAESH trees changing from pink to purple. When I think of the Bosphorus, this tree and its colors come to mind right next to the blue. It's magnificent. How could I have never noticed the leaves of the Tree with the magic of its flowers? A chubby HEART. A leaf that you can fall in love with when you look at it.