Kadir Nurman

Kadir Nurman (c.1933 – 24 October 2013)^[1] was a Turkish-born German restaurateur, largely credited with having invented the döner kebab.^[2][3] Nurman was recognised by the Association of Turkish Döner Manufacturers in 2011.^[3] Afterwards, Nurman told the German magazine Frankfurter Rundschau that he was unhappy with modern kebabs as "there are too many ingredients" in them.^[2] Mehmet Aygün is also credited with being an inventor of the döner kebab.^[4]

Nurman was born in Istanbul, Turkey.^[2] Nurman emigrated to Germany from Turkey in 1960, aged 26, and moved to Berlin from Stuttgart from 1966. In 1972 set up a fast food stall at Berlin's Berlin Zoologischer Garten railway station in West Berlin.^[3][5] At his stall Nurmann sold grilled meat and salad inside a flat bread, selling minced veal and lamb and onions.^[3] Nurman never patented his innovation and did not profit from the subsequent success of the döner. On the subject of other inventors, Nurman said in German "Maybe someone else has also done in a hidden corner, but what no one has noticed it... through me the kebab was known."^[5] Nurman later said he was happy that so many Turkish people were able to make a living from döner.^[3] Nurman had thought Berliners might like a portable meal.^[3]

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