In early December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan kindled an old culinary rivalry between two Turkish cities — Kastamonu and Kayseri — by praising Kastamonu’s pastirma, a spicy cured beef that is part of the national cuisine and a ready accompaniment to raki, the anise-based national drink.
Erdogan’s words on “the best” pastirma had immediate ripple effects in other cities such as Afyon and Sivas, which also lauded their versions to be the best. The sales of pastirma soared all around the country.