Hundreds of people came together at the anchovy festival, which was organized by a social media group formed by some Turks living in Washington, Virginia and Maryland and supported by the Washington-based Turkish American Association (ATADC), held in Washington in the US. The festival also welcomed American citizens who wanted to try out the Turkish flavor.

Pelin Esen Belenen, a Turkish citizen who brought her husband to the festival, said: “My husband and I are coming for the first time. He didn’t know what it was all about. It was very nice to experience something with the Turks. He said that it was very good, with a warm, crispy crust from the barbecue.”

Yusuf Bulca, the manager of the social media group, stated that anchovies were brought from the Black Sea to Istanbul and then to Washington.

Being held for two consecutive years, the festival attracted greater attention compared to the previous version, and the head of the ATADC Association said that they are planning to arrange a bigger festival next year.