Last Sunday I saw a film called Museum Hours. Part of the 2013 Minneapolis Film Festival, the movie centers around a visit to Vienna by a Canadian woman. The woman meets a kind museum guide and he shows her around the city. I was expecting a Vienna travelogue, and in some ways the film provided one. But I was surprised that Turkey entered in. In one scene people are buying lunch at a food truck called “Kismet Kebab.” In another scene Austrians visit a bar where they dance to Turkish music. This is no doubt the result of many decades of Turkish people working in Austria.

I am interested in how cultures spread outside their places of origin. Those of us Americans who have been fortunate to travel overseas can’t help but notice American foods, films, and other products far from home. And not always the ones we are most proud of.

The Turkish culture has long been influential in the Middle East. My Iraqi students told me that all the clothing sold in Iraq is from Turkey, and I suspect that is also true in other Arab countries as well as some of the “stan” countries. Turkey is also moving to Europe. In 2010, the fashionable Turkish women’s store, Yargici, opened a boutique in Paris.

http://greenhotelparis.com/ecotourism/yargici-turkish-fashion-paris/

Most Turkish items that reach the United States are related to food. This is great: Turkish cuisine is both delicious and healthful.

These curved “tulip” glasses, are made by a prestigious Turkish glass manufacturer, Pasabahce. Sold at The Caspian Sea market near the University of Minnesota, they are de rigeur if you’re drinking Turkish tea!

Centrally located in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood, The Black Sea restaurant sells delicious soups and kebabs.

Filfillah restaurant in north Minneapolis offers Iskender, a Turkish favorite.

Filfillah also offers the popular, spicy Adana Kebab.

In New York, the sight of a Mango store reminded us of Istanbul, even though the store is Spanish in origin.

We saw a pudding restaurant on the lower East Side, which had to be Turkish inspired. It is not unusual for restaurants in Turkey to be entirely devoted to sutlu tatli (milky desserts).

I realize that grilled eggplant is native to many Mediterranean countries, but I’m going to give this one to Turkey anyway. Mmm!

One of many food trucks in New York offering Turkish cuisine.