Fresh Green Beans Served to Atatürk

On Monday, 18 February 1935, at around 2:30 p.m., the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk docked at the Antalya pier aboard the steamer Ege. The same period holds an unforgettable memory for “grandfather” 7 Mehmet, who was working alongside Hacı Hasan at the time — and what a memory it is. When Atatürk arrived in Antalya, the governor of the era and the city’s leading figures approached Hacı Hasan, who had previously cooked for Atatürk, and told him that a meal would be prepared for the Great Leader. They asked, “What does he like, what shall we cook, what shall we slaughter — a camel, a bull, a ram?” Without hesitation, Hacı Hasan replied: “His Excellency loves fresh green beans.” While everyone was discussing that it would be impossible to cook fresh beans given the season, 7 Mehmet stepped forward and said, “I will find the beans!” He went into the garden plots of the Narenciye and Kırcamii districts and gathered around 850 grams of fresh green beans. Together with Hacı Hasan, 7 Mehmet entered the kitchen and prepared the dishes, and thus fresh green beans were served at Atatürk’s table. Atatürk immediately recognized the flavour and said, “I know this taste — bring me Hacı Hasan!” Hacı Hasan appeared before the Pasha with his apprentice 7 Mehmet by his side. After a brief conversation filled with praise, 7 Mehmet gained a story he would carry with pride for the rest of his life. You can find the recipe for the fresh green beans served to Atatürk on page 233.