Free culinary class offers side dish of culture
by Adam Carlson

First rule of thumb: do not be afraid of the rolling pin.

Or the mixing bowl. Or the oven.

"Cooking is not a hard thing to do," Fatima Kazanci said.

And she would know. As one of the cooking class instructors at the Interfaith Cultural Organization of Athens, Kazanci has been providing free culinary classes since April along with her co-instructor Nur Cayirdag.

When they began teaching together, it was with this goal in mind: to show that there exists something outside of ramen noodles and that what you can make yourself can be tasty and inexpensive.

They've demonstrated recipes both new and familiar to any resident foodie - baklava, stuffed grape leaves, roll apple pie, carrot salad - with a simple work ethic: demonstration is essential.

They believe showing people that they are capable of more than just out-of-the box food helps build their confidence in the kitchen.

"People try it so they know [they can do it]," Cayirdag said.

Though neither is formally trained in the culinary arts, both women have years of informal experience: Cayirdag has been cooking since she was 13.

With that experience also comes the knowledge that cooking can offer more than just the opportunity for good food.

"We encourage people to cook their own culture's food," she said. "It's not just cooking and eating, [it's] also sharing."

Each session typically involves two hours of actual cooking followed by an hour of chatting and eating.

It's with that spirit of cross-cultural culinary learning that Kazanci and Cayirdag invite other friends to attend and participate in their classes.

Their next guest will be teaching the art of preparing the Chilean empanada and rolled apple cookies.

The focus on fresh and organic vegetables also attracts curious cooks-to-be interested in smarter alternatives.

"This is coming back [in style] in America," Cayirdag said. "It's the healthier option."

Both women also encourage repeated attendance. Participants who attends three of the cooking classes will receive a special cooking certificate.

In addition, each class offers the opportunity to learn a variety of easy, inexpensive do-it-yourself recipes including desserts, salads and main courses.

Amidst the cooking and the eating is also the opportunity to talk, which is just as important.

"Food is a great connecting tool," Kazanci said. "Our main motivation is to get people together over food, and to get them talking."

Interfaith Cultural Organization promotes peace, love and appetizers

"The Interfaith Cultural Organization from the University of Georgia recently hosted its first Annual Interfaith Dialogue Dinner. The dinner served IFCO's aim of promoting mutual understanding and dialogue between different religions and cultures. More than 110 guests - spiritual leaders, academicians, politicians, representatives of different cultural and ethnic groups, Ph.D. students, journalists and members of the Turkish-American society - were present at the event at Foundry Park Inn. The dinner began with a welcome speech by the president of IFCO, highlighting the significance and purpose of interfaith dialogue and focusing on the purpose of IFCO."

Interfaith Dialogue Dinner

"The Interfaith Cultural Organization will host its Interfaith Dialogue Dinner at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Foundry Park Inn, 295 E. Dougherty St. Christians, Jews, Muslims and other faith leaders will meet at dinner to share and promote "The Necessity of Interfaith Dialogue." The program will feature the following speakers: Mayor Heidi Davison; Dr. Edward Bolen, Pastor of Milledge Avenue Baptist Church; Dr. Sandy Martin, Professor of Religion and Head of the Religion Department at UGA; Dr. Alan Godlas, Professor of Religion at UGA; Dr. Edward Halper, Professor of Philosophy at UGA and Suleyman Eris, Imam at Istanbul Center for Culture and Dialogue. For an invitation or more information, call (706) 254-1097."