Ethnic pride is so 19th century. Being proud of a medieval empire owned by a family (Ottomans) is equally stupid today.

Collective creation produced these culinary traditions. Using a unifying term like "Balkan cuisine" accurately reflects this shared heritage. Food must serve as a bridge for regional unity rather than a tool for division.

​Cross-cultural integration defined the urban centers of our region for centuries. For example, Ottoman Turks regularly interacted with Greek and Armenian tavern proprietors, adopting diverse meze preparations from them. The Turks subsequently integrated these dishes into their own routines, contributing unique gastronomic modifications and embedding them within broader cultural practices.

​The evolution of midye dolma illustrates this synthesis. Turkish populations probably learned the preparation of stuffed mussels from Greeks, an exchange that likely began before the Ottoman era. Over subsequent centuries, Turkish cooks adapted the recipe, transforming it into the variation prevalent today.

​Gastronomy also functioned as an active mechanism for social cohesion across religious boundaries. During the fasting month of Ramadan, Ottoman Greek tavern owners in worked to maintain commercial and social ties with their Muslim patrons. They sent elaborate dishes, historically referred to as "unutma beni dolması" (forget-me-not dolma), directly to their customers' homes. Cooks often prepared complex, labor-intensive recipes for this purpose, specifically mackarel dolma, which you need to stuff the fish meticolously with rice from its mouth with tweezers, so that its body will remain intact.

So, let's celebrate ourselves instead of bickering like children because ​Balkan gastronomy stands as a historical record of cohabitation. Attempting to compartmentalize our shared history into modern national borders misrepresents the past. Acknowledging our joint authorship of the Balkan cuisine can provide a framework for mutual respect and cultural solidarity.