Refika Birgül

Refika Birgül — Biography

Refika Birgül is a food writer and television presenter known for Refika'nın Mutfağı (Refika's Kitchen), the brand she founded. She has written a weekly food column for Hürriyet since 2010, runs YouTube channels in Turkish and English, and appeared on NOW TV in Ramadan 2026 with the programme Refika'yla Özlediğimiz Ramazanlar.

She began her career outside food: she worked at an advertising agency, at the IF Istanbul Independent Film Festival and at the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, set up her own VoIP business, and rose from senior executive to general manager of a private hospital. The turning point came in 2010, when she published her first bilingual book, Refika'nın Mutfağı / Cooking New Istanbul Style, translating it herself; the first print run sold out in six weeks. In 2011 she began making Mucize Lezzetler in her kitchen workshop in Kuzguncuk, and in 2013 she founded the Refika'dan brand to protect traditional crafts and craftspeople. In 2015 she presented ten-minute recipes in Hızlı Tarifler on NTV, followed in 2018-2020 by Refika ile Öze Dönüş, Refika ile Test Mutfağı and Refika ile Memleketin Hazineleri.

Mucize Lezzetler won awards from the Anatolian Folk Cuisine Association and the BuGusto club at Boğaziçi University, and she was named Best TV Chef at the 2013 Time Out Istanbul Food and Drink Awards. She attended Robert College, studied psychology at Koç University and took leadership training at London Business School. In March 2026 she made news with her tips for cutting kitchen waste.