About Delicious Istanbul

Olga Tikhonova-Irez created Delicious Istanbul in 2010 after two years of hands-on research of the city that impressed her with incredible energy, people’s hospitality and fantastic cuisine. When not leading food tours and cooking classes in Istanbul Olga spends time on the countryside where she helps in her mother-in-law to run their family restaurant.

Russia-born Olga has obtained her fundamental knowledge of culinary through the time spent at the tables and kitchens of the restaurants and local houses in Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Scandinavia, Italy, Balkans, India, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco and Turkey where Olga has lived, worked or extensively traveled. Olga holds her master degree from a prestigious Scandinavian business school NHH and before Delicious Istanbul she worked as a consultant at a leading international strategy consultancy.

Olga is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP), International Culinary Tourism Association and author of blog on Istanbul food.