International Chefs Day is marked on October 20 for already eight years. On this day culinary competitions and master classes are held worldwide.

On this occasion we appealed to Sedrak Mamulyan, President of Development and Maintenance of Armenian Culinary Traditions NGO, to learn more about Armenian cuisine.

“The most popular dish in Armenia is definitely barbecue. It is unfair as Armenian cuisine is rich and varied but major attention is drawn to barbecue. However, barbecue is worth it. Every September we hold a barbecue festival. Every year we are shocked by a variety of barbecue styles. 

My favorite barbecue recipe is simple: salt, pepper, white wine and thyme. I think to get perfect barbecue you do not need much, just cook it with love. Everyone who loves cooking and loves tasty food can become a first-class chef. One in two Armenians can make barbecue, moreover each has the recipe which is “world’s best ever”.

Our NGO is organizing courses for cooks, collecting recipes in the most remote areas of Armenia to publish a book of Armenian cuisine. We are also organizing different festivals.

By the way, the most interesting recipe that we learned is the basis of molecular gastronomy - modern style of cooking. Imagine, it is developing in Spain and Italy and we appeared to have these recipes thousands of years ago.

The recipe is called “Kati ser” (cream), it is like a candy. Milk is simmered for 10 hours. As a result, condensing milk turns into a solid and very tasty candy. Armenians, especially horsemen, used to eat it with honey.

The most ancient Armenian dish is called khashil. I cannot say how old it is. I remember that my grandmother cooked it for me. I wish I could be a child again and try it.”

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