FOOD IN ARMENIA

National Cuisine

Armenian cuisine is one of the oldest in Asia. Armenian culinary traditions date back to ancient times and the recipes of many dishes have not changed for mellennia.

A lot of spices and aromatics are frequently used in Armenian food, such as black pepper, cilantro, mint, tarragon, basil, thyme, garlic and onion. Meat dishes are very popular in Armenia. The star is khorovats (barbecue). It is usually made wiht pork, but sometimes with lamb or beef. It's very simple just marninated meat grilled on hot coals. Despite its simple recipe, a really tasty khorovats is made only in Armenia.

Another popular local dish, dolma, is made from minced meat with rice and spices and herbs. In the spring, it is wrapped in grape or cabbageleaves, while in the summer and fall, it's stuffed into apples, quinces, aubergines, peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables. Actually, there is one more kind of dolma called pasuts (lenten), which as you might guess, is vegetarian. In this version, cabbage or other vegetable are stuffed with a mixture of beans and grains.

The Sevan trout and Sevan whitefish are special delicacies. They are local fish species that are prepared using dozens of recipes. As far as snacks go, basturma (a sort of dried spiced meat jerky) and sujukh ( a spicy sausage) are loved everywhere. Lavash, the Arminian national bread, is a thin flatbread made without yeast.

Vegetable and fruits are a must fro an Armenian feast. Though they don't look any different from vegetalbes and fruits in other countries, their flavour is something special. It's hard to describe-you just have to try them. Vegetabels and fruits are frequently used in meat and fish pereparation, Aubergines, bell peppers and tomatoes are often grilled on the barbecue and are served with the meat. All the subtleties of Armenina cuisine can be learned in numerous restaurants both in the ceneter and in the suburbs of Yerevan.

Street Food

Fast food is quite popular in Armenia. But remember- there is no MacDonald's in Yerevan and burgers are not very popular. Nontheless, practically everywhere in the city, you can buy shawarma and if you have a littel time, you can visit a snack bar and order a lyylya-kebab. The signs and the chic interior design do not always correspond with the quality of the food so you will have to choose a snack bar based on local's advice or out of your own experience. One recommendation: you'd be wise to steer clear of street vendors selling Middle Eastern meat treats. Besides shawarma, lahmajo is also very popular in Yerevan. It is a thin pancake-like bread with miced meat and spices. Many call this dish Middle Eastern pizza. However, there are plenty of traditional pizzerias in the city, too. In the city centre, you can trrat yourself to all this delight of fast food till late at night.

Beer

Several types of Armenian beer are sold in Yerevan. They are mainly light beers; dark ones are less popular. You can buty them in any supermarket. Armenian beer usually costs 400 drams for a bottle (0.5l). The most popular brands are Kilikia, Kotayk, and Gyumri. Some bars carry them on tap. Local beers are usually quite bitter. Most stores also carry European and Russian varieties. Beer is a popular beverage in Armenia, on the menus of most restaurants and snack bars.

Wine

Armenia produces several red and white wines. We recommend having a glass of wine on a warm Yerevan evening, sitting in an open-air café and enjoying the view of the city. Local fruit wines are also worth trying. Pomegranate wine and homemade cherry wine are especially popular. You can buy them at any supermarket. Also, do not hesitate to taste young, non-fermented wine, called machar, in the fall. To avoid a bad stomachache, don't eat fruit (especially grapes) while drinking machar.

Brandy

Local brandy is the pride and joy of Yerevan. You must pay a visit to the Yerevan Brandy Factory, where you will not only be shown the technology of brandy making but also have a chance to taste it. We highly recommend drinking brandy in one of Yerevan's jazz clubs while listening to good music. It's such a nice experience that you'll probably want to take a bottle or two back with you. By the way, we advise you to buy brandy at the duty-free shop, as the difference in prices is considerable.

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