Food was prepared for about 4,000 people. The kitchen staff consisted of more than 800 people, rising to 1,000 on religious holidays. As many as 6,000 meals a day could be prepared.
Topkapi Palace
The palace kitchens were the largest kitchens in the Ottoman Empire. Meals were prepared here for the Sultan, the residents of the Harem, Enderûn and Birûn (the inner and outer services of the palace). The kitchens included dormitories, baths, and a mosque for the employees - most of which has disappeared.