Hatay food culture and geographical factors affecting

Nutrition is one of the most basic needs of humans. This basic need has enabled the formation of a food culture that varies from society to society. Many geographical, social, historical, religious and cultural factors are effective in shaping food culture. That's why food culture is the subject of study in many branches of science. The subject of food culture falls within the field of cultural geography, which is a sub-research field of Human Geography. Cultural geography; Geographers try to reveal both the human and environmental effects of a culture by observing and interpreting it spatially. In this study, the factors affecting food culture and the change of food culture in space and time are examined based on the principles of geography. In this study, the food culture of the Hatay region will be examined from the perspective of physical and human geography and the findings will be presented. Hatay is located at the intersection of Anatolian and Syrian cultures, which have hosted many civilizations throughout history. Due to its geographical location, it is located at the point where the Silk Road meets the Mediterranean. Hatay province, which still hosts many cultures today, has been included among the 26 Gastronomy cities in the world by UNESCO with its unique food culture. This study is being prepared in order to see the effects of geography on the emergence of this food culture. The unique dishes of the ethnic communities living in Hatay, the dishes prepared differently from each other, and the relationship between the traditional dishes common to all of them as Hatay dishes and geographical conditions were emphasized. In addition, the dishes prepared by different religions and sects in Hatay, which is a mosaic of religions, and the effects of these dishes on Hatay food culture are discussed. In the study, one-on- one interviews with local people, observations and investigations were conducted in the study area. Along with the interviews held during the field trip, audio and camera recordings were made and photographs were taken. According to the findings, natural conditions have an important place in the food culture of the region. Since the local people benefit from the riches offered by nature, the effect of natural conditions has gained an important place in culinary culture. The region's climate, with rainy winters and hot summers, has led to the formation of Mediterranean climate elements in the region. This situation has also affected the food culture in the region, which hosts many endemic plants. The region's location between Anatolia and the Arabian peninsula has caused it to host dishes from both cultures. Differences in landforms have enabled agriculture and animal husbandry activities, which provide the main ingredients of Hatay dishes. Although the food culture in Hatay has changed over time, it still maintains its importance because the geographical features have not changed much. In order to transfer food culture to the future, both natural environmental conditions and human characteristics must be preserved.