2. INTERNATIONAL APPETIZER FESTIVAL 2018

Awarded two Michelin stars, Pere Planaguma also holds a Sommelier’s Certificate from Fundació Universitat Oberta de Girona. He has worked at La Tour d'Argent in Paris, as well as at the renowned elBulli in Barcelona, which has three Michelin stars; following that, he served as the Head Chef at El Celler de Can Roca , ranked first and second in the World's 50 Best Restaurants List. After returning to Girona, he opened his own restaurant (ROM). He continues to participate in gastronomic activities throughout the world as an academician and a gastronomic consultant for the Gastrocultura Mediterrânea Academy.

Joe Barza is a Member of the French Academy of Cuisine and the Head of the Lebanese Chefs'
Union. During a career spanning more than 30 years, Barza has contributed enormously to raising the
profile of Middle Eastern cuisine. Between 1995 and 2000, he was recognized by Salon Culinaire with
silver and gold medals for seafood, Lebanese cuisine and mezes. He also won the Jury Honorary
Award at the European Sandwich Combat in 2003. He ranked 9th and 5th in 2003 and 2005,
respectively, in the Pastry World Cup. Additionally, he was recognized with the Championship Award
at the 2006 World Championship of Tuna contest, held in Sardinia.

Representing the third generation in a century-old business with a ‘grandfather to grandson’ tradition,
Mehmet Akdağ was born in 1983 and is the manager and chef at 7 Mehmet. Established in 1937, the
81-year old restaurant’s name derives from a V-shaped scar. Mehmet Akdağ, the founder of 7 Mehmet
and grandfather of the current Mehmet, sustained the scar on his forehead in an accident; in Arabic
and Old Turkish, ‘scar’ was ‘seven’. Thus, the restaurant became ‘7 Mehmet’. Current manager
Mehmet Akdağ was born in 1984 and has served in the family business almost since his birth, following the footsteps of his grandfather and father. Currently he serves over 600 Turkish cuisine and
regional flavours, along with unique dishes.  

Volkan Bekit was born in Münih, in 1977. From the age of 10, he served in various roles at Bay Nihat
Restaurant, opened by his father, Ahmet Nihat Bekit, in 1978. He continues to work in the family
business alongside his father and his brother, Mustafa Hakan Bekit.

Erhan Görücüoğlu was born in İzmir in 1976. After graduating from university, he worked for 19 years
in business administration, as well as in the management of bars, beach clubs, restaurants and F&B.;
He currently operates the ZIPKIN Fish Restaurants in İstanbul’s Arnavutköy and Alaçatı.

The renowned Egyptian chef discovered his cooking passion at the age of 20, during his military
service. At the invitation of an uncle who ran a restaurant in Paris, Seif moved to France and began
working professionally as a chef. He was the First-Place winner at HACE, organized by the Egyptian
Chefs Organization, and a Top Chef on the Bravo Network show in the USA.

İstanbul Kandilli’de doğan Maria Ekmekçioğlu’nun anne tarafı İstanbul, baba tarafı Safranboluludur.
1713 senesine kadar uzanan aile ağacının kökleri fırıncılık yapan büyükbabaya ulaşmaktadır. Aile,
Soyadı Kanunu ile Ekmekçioğlu soyadını almıştır. Maria Ekmekçioğlu çocukluk yıllarında kış aylarını
İstanbul’da, yaz aylarını ise Kandilli ve Adalar’da geçirmiştir.
Eğitimini tamamlamak için gittiği Selanik’te 13 yıl yaşayan Ekmekçioğlu, burada bir evlilik yapmış ve 3
erkek evlat sahibi olmuştur. Üç çocuğunu yetiştirirken 2 pastane sahibi olmayı başaran Ekmekçioğlu
mesleğine ara vermemiştir.
Alexandros, Apollon ve Pascal adındaki 3 oğlu ile İstanbul’a dönen Maria Ekmekçioğlu, Etiler’de daha
sonra Maria’s Restaurant adını alarak devam edecek olan Maria’nın Bahçesi’ni ve Atina’da Maria’s
adlı restoranları kurmuştur.
Ekmekçioğlu, restoran şefliğinin yanı sıra Türkiye’de “Lezzet Büyücüsü” ve son 5 senedir bir
Yunanistan televizyon kanalında “İstanbul’dan Anadolu’ya” programını sunmaktadır. Özel bir
üniversitede öğretim görevlisi olarak deneyimlerini öğrencilerine aktaran Ekmekçioğlu, Mutfak Dostları
Derneği ile Chaine des Rotisseurs ve Chef’s Club üyesidir.
Maria Ekmekçioğlu kariyerine gastronomi alanında kitaplar sığdırmış, Gökçen Adar’la birlikte
hazırladığı “Bir O Yaka Bir Bu Yaka” ile “Hatıramdaki Mezeler’’ kitapları büyük ilgi görmüştür.
Ekmekçioğlu deneyimlerini uzun yıllar yaşadığı Yunanistan’a da aktarmayı ihmal etmemiş ve bu
ülkede de 2 yemek kitabı yayımlamıştır.

Doga Çitçi worked in his family business, in Elazığ, until 1996, when he moved to his own restaurant, Harput Sofrası. He has served as an Executive Chef at the Mersin Ali Baba Restaurant and the Sultani Restaurant, as well as at restaurants in the Mersin Hotel Souser, the Mersin Hilton, the Sultaşa Hotel, the Riverside Holiday Resort and the Mersin Tennis Club.

Just one of two Turkish chefs to have been awarded a Michelin star, Serkan Güzelçoban grew up in the kitchen. Born in Germany, the 33-year-old chef began his career at the age of 17, and opened his own restaurant at the age of 33, creating globally acclaimed tastes offered with the famous Turkish hospitality. Chef Güzelçoban will be at the 2nd International Meze Festival on October 13!