Fatma Hülya Tek

Fatma has long dreamt of opening a restaurant of her own, where she can make home-style, traditional dishes. And thanks to business training through the LIFE Project, she is now more prepared to do so. Fatma was born in Bolu, the administrative center of the Bolu Province that lies between Ankara and Istanbul. The area is known for its dense forests, hot springs, and good cooks. Much of Fatma’s family, in fact, works in food-related businesses — some are retired hotel restaurant chefs, and her sister is a nutritionist. Fatma plans to open her restaurant near the Bakirkoy hospital in Istanbul, as hospitals often do not have healthy options near them. While today more restaurants are opening, Fatma hopes to stand out from the rest by recruiting her family members as well as recent Bolu Culinary School graduates, thus providing a space for tradition and innovation to flourish in the same pot.