A culinary culture evaluation through ethnocentrism and emotional solidarity: Kabakdağı Georgian Village

There is a close relationship between cultural sustainability and the attitude of emotional solidarity and ethnocentrism. Based on this idea, this thesis aims to evaluate the culinary culture of a settlement that has aspects that are ethnically and therefore culturally distinct from its surroundings within the framework of ethnocentrism and emotional solidarity. It is possible to state that this research, which associates ethnocentrism and emotional solidarity with culinary culture, differs from the culinary culture literature, which includes topics such as dining habits, food types, and ingredients used. For the purpose of the research, Kabakdağı Village in Fatsa district of Ordu province was preferred. The reason for choosing this place is that it is a settlement area for Turkish citizens of Georgian origin. Interview via a semi-structured interview form was preferred as the data collection method. Seventeen people who met certain criteria were consulted. In addition, since the interviews were conducted in the research area, the opportunity to make observations was also provided. The data obtained through the interviews were subjected to descriptive analysis under the main themes of cultural promotion and indicators that supporting and inhibitory ethnocentrism and emotional solidarity. Under the main theme of supporting indicators, there are sub-themes of cultural preservation, cultural transmission, cultural superiority and cultural belonging. The main theme of the inhibitory indicators includes generation gap, urbanization and kinship relations. In a general evaluation, it can be stated that supportive indicators stand out, and this finding shows that ethnocentrism and emotional solidarity attitudes are high in Kabakdağı. As a result of this attitude, it can be said that the original culinary culture is seen as an important cultural heritage and efforts are made to preserve and transmit it. On the other hand, it was concluded that the generation gap in particular was an obstacle to ethnocentrism and emotional solidarity attitudes, and that the younger generation did not meet expectations in embracing and preserving the culinary culture.