A foodie's heaven: Bozcaada's Local Tastes Festival

The seventh annual Bozcaada International Festival of Local Tastes will be taking place om Sept. 24-25 on the very special island situated in the Dardanelles where the Marmara and Aegean Sea meet off of Turkey's western coast. The third largest island in Turkey and once known as Tenedos, Bozcaada, which is just shy of 40 kilometers-squared in size, is an agricultural haven known for its luscious grapes, fresh fish, red poppies and local produce from which their famed local cuisine is based upon. Time and time again, the island has been listed as a top choice by the popular travel magazine Condé Nast, being named the best island in Europe in 2011 and the world's second best the year prior. Not only is the draw due to its rich historical heritage, less crowded beaches and a plethora of boutique accommodation options, but the island is also very much famed for its wonderful culinary legacy and the picturesque and innovative restaurants set in stone buildings that line the cobblestone streets that are now closed to traffic.

Bozcaada Int'l Taste Festival Sept. 24-25

For any foodie, the ideal time to visit this precious island is during the upcoming International Bozcaada Local Tastes Festival, in which international and local chefs and the island's housewives come together to prepare traditional local dishes and cuisine in ode to the product's the island is famed for. Held annually in September, the event begins on Saturday with food tastings of both local and international cuisine dished up in the island's main square following by a concert performance in the castle. On Sunday, participants will enjoy the classic Bozcaada breakfast and then purchase the products they enjoyed before the event concludes on Sunday afternoon.

What is Bozcaada cuisine?

The festival tradition is for the local women to prepare dishes special to the island that are sold from stands. International and local chefs, restaurants and cafes now also join in the fun, with some offering three-day tasting menus showcasing local cuisine. Ada mantısı, calamari, grilled octopus, sea urchin, oven roasted kid and rabbit stew are just a few of the island's specialties. With five centuries of entwined history between the Turks and Greeks, the influence of both cultures is evident in the cuisine, in which other specialties that should not go without mention include chickpea bread, goat and saganaki cheeses, sea urchins, sardines wrapped in grape leaves, raw dolma, tomato jam, corn rose syrup, poppy syrup, oregano honey and the island's special handmade baklava.Bozcaada has also been the center of wine production since 800 B.C. and there are four significant grapes that are grown there, namely: Çavuş, Vasilaki, Kuntra and Karalahana, which will be featured in dishes and drinks for the event. The many cafes, bakeries and coffee shops meanwhile will also be offering samples of the island's classic almond and mastic cookies, grape juice, verjuice, sage and coffee with mastic as just some of the special tastes to look forward to. On Sunday, the focus will be Bozcaada's famous breakfast, concocted of a wide variety of cheeses, herbs, preserves and spreads.

Bozcaada hosts ecological film fest

Bozcaada International Festival of Ecological Documentaries Oct. 12-16 As of last year, Bozcaada is also now host to another significant festival that will take over the island for five days next month. The Bozcaada International Festival of Ecological Documentaries will take place from Oct. 12-16, with simultaneous showings of a wide variety of films in two different screening rooms showing from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. In addition to dozens of film showings on ecological issues, including screenings of competition finalists who will be awarded by a jury on the final night followed by a cocktail party, there will also be workshops, panel discussions, exhibitions and concerts held throughout the festival.

Tour the Rainbow Warrior

On Friday, Sept. 16, Greenpeace's famous ship the Rainbow Warrior comes to Bozcaada for an open house allowing inquisitive visitors on board the legendary ship and to find out more about the organization's activities. The Rainbow Warrior ship has had a long legacy, from helping to end nuclear testing in the Pacific, blocking coal ports and closing down destructive fishing operations to its sinking in 1985. Its second version served for 20 loyal years, but now the newest and third edition, which is also the first-ship to be designed and built especially for Greenpeace, is one of the most environmentally-friendly ships ever made.

The Rainbow Warrior III is currently on tour in Turkey to promote solar energy and the fact that Turkey has the second highest potential for solar energy in Europe. Their goal is to get 1 million roofs to boast a solar power system and to achieve this they are traveling to ports throughout Turkey to offer the unique opportunity to take a tour of a ship working to save the planet.

Yesterday, the ship was docked in Çeşme at the Ulusoy Ro-Ro Limanı between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tomorrow, the Rainbow Warrior arrives to Bozcaada for an open house from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The iconic ship will then head to Istanbul where it will be docked at Kuruçeşme Cemil Topuzlu Park between Tuesday, Sept. 20 and Sunday Sept. 25 and open to visitors between the hours of 1:30 - 7:30 p.m. All showings of the Rainbow Warrior III are free.