Name: Betül Tunç
Age: 34
Home base: Blacksburg, Virginia
Known for: Baker Betül Tunç’s Instagram account, Turkuaz Kitchen, counts more than ten million followers thanks to gorgeous creations like her orange slice–topped ombré citrus cake and berry pavlova, all made with minimal electric tools. Now she has published her first cookbook, Turkuaz Kitchen: Traditional and Modern Dough Recipes for Sweet and Savory Bakes.
Playing by hearth: “I was born and raised in Erzurum, a city in Turkey known for its cold weather and warmhearted people. The long winter days nurtured my love for a warm kitchen.”
Yes, Chef: “My first mentors were my mom and older sisters, who introduced me to the joys of cooking. While I don’t have any formal training, I immersed myself in cooking shows, cookbooks, magazines, newspapers, and online resources.”
Powering down: “Growing up, I was captivated by old movies, where the kitchen sets were filled with beautiful vintage items. I had already amassed a collection of antique kitchen tools and incorporated them to create the aesthetic I love. There’s something incredibly satisfying about the tactile experience of cooking the old-fashioned way.”
Mountain magic: “We moved to Blacksburg when my husband was hired as a professor at Virginia Tech [in 2020]. This lovely small town has stolen my heart.”
Bready, set, go: “Before here, we lived in Madison, Wisconsin, where I had a connected Turkish community, and then Chicago. Moving with a small baby led to feelings of isolation, and my husband suggested I start posting my recipes online.”
Loaf-changing experience: “Starting the trend of punch-down dough videos really brought my account into the spotlight. Then my chocolate caramel babka video went viral in 2021.”
Knead to know: “For bread, it’s the little things that matter. High-quality ingredients—especially nonexpired yeast!—make a big difference. You can avoid catastrophic errors by using a kitchen scale and following recipes exactly until you get a feel for the dough.”
Universal tastes: “Corn is used throughout both Southern and Turkish cuisines. My mother’s cornbread recipe is as dear to me as many Southern families’.”
Virtual success: “When I was little, I dreamed of writing my cookbook. I had fantasies of signing copies. Little did I know I would leave Turkey and find this online community that has made all of this possible. It’s even better than I dreamed.”
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