OUR PHILOSOPHY
"A person resembles the
place they live."
- Edip Cansever
We believe this resemblance is reciprocal. In Antakya, the spirit of the place is encoded in its flavors. And when the memory of a taste is preserved, the soul of the place can find a way to regrow.
MANIFESTO
1.
Sofretna preserves memory against time. Along with the ingredients, Sofretna documents the stories of the producers, the techniques, and the cultural roots behind them.
2.
Sofretna knows the makers of our food deserve visibility and real support. Sofretna acts as a caretaker of this communal knowledge, never its owner.
3.
Sofretna honors the wisdom of the soil as the foundation of a sustainable future. By prioritizing the producer and the land, Sofretna treats culinary heritage as an alive organism for social transformation.
4.
Sofretna believes that sharing knowledge is as vital as sharing a meal. By passing down recipes, memories, and rituals, Sofretna aims to preserve the social fabric.
A PERSONAL NOTE
What began as an academic research evolved into a commitment.
Growing up in Adana, Antakya’s neighbor, I learned early on that our shared geography is defined by the table called "Sofra". However, the reality of February 6th gave this truth a new weight. It became clear that these recipes are essential tools for preserving collective memory.
Consequently, I felt a commitment to document the stories behind these recipes and the intricate processes of their production as a means of cultural survival.
This platform was born out of academic research, but it is no longer just a study. My research made me realize that in Antakya, gastronomy is a strategic source of resilience. Because when institutional systems pause, local food networks become an "informal insurance" that holds the social fabric together.
Thus, Sofretna is the result of this journey to document Antakya’s "embodied cultural capital" against the risk of placelessness. The project aims to contribute to Antakya’s eighth rebirth by preserving the memory of its flavors.
— Öykü Bozkır / Researcher & Founder