Food: Armenian food beginner’s guide: 7 dishes you absolutely must try

Wanderlust, UK
Aug 29 2019
 
 
Armenian food beginner’s guide: 7 dishes you absolutely must try
 
Hearty, delicious and made from the freshest ingredients, Armenian cuisine has borrowed the flavours of traders and conquerors to create a unique taste of its own…
 
Located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Armenia’s cuisine has been influenced by traders and conquers from the Mediterranean, Middle East and Eastern Europe.
 
It makes use of the freshest ingredients – Armenian fruit and vegetables are legendary throughout the region – and all kinds of spices, herbs, meat and fish.
 
Eating is an integral part of life in Armenia. Locals will find any excuse to have a feast, so don’t be surprised to be dragged into a family home as a guest of honour, enjoying a delicious meal made from recipes passed down from generation to generation.
 
And while some of the dishes may seem familiar (tabbouleh, dolma and kebab are staples), each has a distinctly Armenian twist. Just don’t expect your cook to reveal their secret ingredients too readily.
 
Here are the Armenian dishes you absolutely must try…
 
1. Khorovats
 
Khorovats on the grill (Shutterstock)
 
Khorovats are the Armenian take on a kebab, an inescapable part of dining in the country. In restaurants and in truck stops, on street corners and in family homes, you’ll find charcoal manghals (grills) and a man turning skewers loaded with huge chunks of meat over an open flame.
 
Pork, lamb and beef are the preferred cuts of meat and there is little marinading or seasoning. Armenians believe condiments detract from the natural flavours of the meat. And while you may sometimes see peppers and onions on the skewers, they are there purely for decoration.
 
The ‘greens’ come with the salad that accompanies every khorovats, made from fried tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, greens and onion. Wrap it all up in lavash, the delicious local flat bread, and experience a simple foodie delight.
 
2. Kyufta
 
Kyufta, sliced and ready to be eaten (Shutterstock)
 
Every Middle Eastern country has their take on the classic kofta, but nothing comes close to the Armenian version.
 
Like its near east cousins, minced meat is lightly spiced and mixed with crushed wheat and onions. They’re also rolled into a tapered spinning top shape. But instead of being grilled, Armenians cook them in a broth.
 
A simple chicken broth is usually used, with that little bit of Armenian zing created by a dash of pomegranate molasses and brown sugar. Well flavoured and rich, kyufta are served sliced with a squeeze of lemon juice.
 
3. Dolma
 
Armenian dolma (Shutterstock)
 
Pronounced ‘tolma’ in Armenia, dolma is another dish you may recognise and think you know. Made from a mix of minced meat, onion, rice, and various spices, all wrapped up in a vine leaf, they are a staple across the eastern Mediterranean. But there’s something different about the Armenia dolma – both on how they are prepared and in the ingredients used.
 
Every Armenian grandmother has their own dolma recipe, but all agree that the key is in how you prepare the leaves. The key is to remove them from boiling water as soon as they change colour.
 
Armenians are also more adventurous with ingredients, too. Expect to find lentils, tomatoes, courgette, aubergine, mint, red peppers, coriander and onions as well as the more traditional rice.
 
Keep an eye out for the special dolma produced especially for Easter. The ingredients are largely the same, but the vine leaves are replaced with cabbage leaves.
 
4. Ishkhan
 
Lake Sevan trout (Shutterstock)
 
Armenia may be a landlocked country, but it still boasts its fair share of fishes dishes. The most famous is Ishkhan, based on a particular type of trout found in Lake Sevan.
 
The trout of Sevan are ‘meatier’ than most and, such was their fame, they were being exported across the region as early as the 15th century.
 
Ishkhan can be prepared in an infinite number of ways. You can order it be boiled, fried or braised with almonds. The most famous dish sees the fish cooked in wine and seasoned with basil, tarragon, chives and pepper.
 
It is also delicious stuffed with local hazelnuts or apricots. Such is the popularity of Sevan trout, locals drive from Yerevan especially to eat it, dining in family run restaurants overlooking the lake.
 
5. Manti
 
Manti about to be eaten (Shutterstock)
 
Ask any member of Armenia’s widespread diaspora what dish they miss most from home and the answer is unanimous: manti, delicious baked dumplings served in tomato sauce with a garlicky yoghurt on the side.
 
It’s not just the taste they miss. It is arguably Armenia’s most sociable meal. Baked until crisp, eager hands will be snapping off the thumb-sized dumplings and dipping them in yoghurt almost as soon as the dish is plonked on the table.
 
There are some variations. Some like the tomato sauce spicy. Others like their yoghurt less garlicky. Manti may have originated in Western Armenia, but it is much-loved across the country.
 
6. Ghapama
 
Ghapama. A real winter warmer (Shutterstock)
 
A delicious moorish dish from southern Armenia, ghapama is so beloved throughout the country that it has its very own song – Hey Jan Ghapama – extolling its delicious taste and fragrance.
 
Basically, it’s a butternut pumpkin, scooped out and stuffed with rice and dried fruits. It’s a real winter warmer and easily the most popular vegetarian dish in the country.
 
A mix of dried fruit can be used in the stuffing, including apples, prunes and plums. This being Armenia, apricots are a must. After the stuffing, the pumpkin is baked then cut up and served to eager diners.
 
Whether or not you have Hey Jan Ghapama playing in the background is entirely up to you.
 
7. Gata
 
Gata, a traditional Armenian sweet pastry (Shutterstock)
 
Gata. It’s mere mention is guaranteed to bring a sparkle to any Armenian eyes. A sweet egg-rich, bread-like cake, it is exotic and syrupy and the perfect accompaniment to a thick, dark cup of surj, the industrial strength local coffee.
 
Gata goes by many names, look out for kada or katah if you cannot spot it on a menu, and varies in shape and size from region to region.
 
Everyone has their on twist on the classic recipe, too, so don’t be surprised to come across variations in ingredients. One thing never changes though – a well made gata always melts in your mouth.
 

Chess: Sinquefield Cup concluded with Levon Aronian placed on the last spot

Panorama, Armenia
Aug 29 2019

Leading player of the Armenia chess team Levon Aronyan has tied the game with Wesley Soon the final round of the Sinquefield Cup concluded in Saint Louise, USA. Following the last round the two players scored 4.5 points taking the last positions in the standing.

World Champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Ding Liren of China scored 6.5 points each and shared the first two places. The winner will be decided in a tie-break match.

Sports: Artashes Nersisyan to manage Armenian women’s team in World Weightlifting C’ship

MediaMax, Armenia
Aug 29 2019
Artashes Nersisyan to manage Armenian women’s team in World Weightlifting C’ship

The team is comprised of two athletes, Izabella Yaylyan (59kg weight class) and Tatev Hakobyan (87kg).

Artashes Mersisyan has told Mediamax Sport that the Weightlifting Federation of Armenia invited him to manage the women’s team again in April, after the European Championship.

“We are training in Yerevan now. On 19 September we’ll travel to Thailand. Our training camps take place in Abovyan, Tsaghkadzor and Yerevan. We plan to compete for Olympic quotas, not medals prize winning places in the World Championship. The competitions will show the level of our readiness,” he said.

Nersisyan and another women’s coach Arman Ghazaryan were suspended after one of the athletes, Sona Poghosyan, tested positive for doping in 2018.

Nersisyan was substituted by Vigen Khachatryan until now, who managed the team in the European Championship in Batumi this April as well.



Sports: Simon Martirosyan to try to win in World C’ship again and set record

MediaMax, Armenia
Aug 29 2019
Simon Martirosyan to try to win in World C’ship again and set record

In 2018 the athlete lifted 240kg in clean and jerk of World C’ship in Ashgabat and gained the title of the World champion with 435kg.

Martirosyan said that this year he will compete for the gold medal for the first time. He became the two-time European champion this April. 

I have already achieved my previous physical fitness. There is still a month ahead of the championship, and I will try to lift more kilograms during this period to improve my indicator. 

I will try to lift more kilograms in Pattaya and show that I am still strong.

I am ready for the tournament and the competition. I will do everything possible to return with new victory.

Based on the kilograms that one lifts during the trainings in weightlifting, the place to aim becomes clear. So, I will try to set records.



Film: The film "Lorik" recognized as the best picture at the international festival in Orenburg

Arminfo, Armenia
Aug 29 2019
Asya Balayan

ArmInfo. The film of Russian director Alexei Zlobin became the winner of the XII International Film Festival “East & West” in the category “Woven  Parallels”.  The main award – the “Golden Sarmatian Lion” – in the  Russian competition “Woven Parallels” was awarded to: Yusup Razykov  in the nomination (film ), Alexey Vertkov – < Best Actor> (film ), < Best Actress> – Elena Susanina (film < Kerosene>), directed by Alexei Zlobin.

More than 65 paintings were presented to the jury. Of these, in the  framework of the Russian competition “Woven Parallels”, the picture  was named the best by Lorik directed by Alexei Zlobin, and the work  by The Castle of Dreams by Iranian director Reza Mirkarimi was named  the best film in the international competition.

The film was represented by director Alexei Zlobin and producer  Martiros Minasyan. The general producer of the film, Mikael Poghosyan  and executive producer Ani Vorskanyan, could not attend the festival,  as were the actors in the film – Armenian actors Iren Ayvazyan, Shake  Tukhmanyan, Anush Arakelyan and others. The premiere of the painting  “Lorik” took place in Armenia last summer.

, says journalist Elena  Anifatyeva.

The film “Lorik” is a tragicomedy that demonstrates the most acute  aspects of our society, including social inequality and human  indifference to various manifestations of injustice.

The dramatic events in the plot of the picture will make the main  character think about the surrounding problems and become part of  them and experience the highest human feelings – love and devotion.   The creative team of the film consists of Armenian and Russian  filmmakers.

For 12 years, filmmakers from more than 50 countries took part in the  film festival, more than 1000 films of foreign and Russian directors  were shown, more than 100 premieres took place.

About 30 thousand residents of Orenburg and guests of the region  became spectators of the festival events. 


Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 28-08-19

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 28-08-19

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17:27,

YEREVAN, 28 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 28 august, USD exchange rate down by 0.07 drams to 475.86 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.80 drams to 527.63 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.04 drams to 7.13 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.47 drams to 580.26 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price вup by 442.59 drams to 23452.99 drams. Silver price вup by 10.29 drams to 271.18 drams. Platinum price вup by 151.08 drams to 13172.66 drams.

Constitutional Court delays examination of Robert Kocharyan’s application

Constitutional Court delays examination of Robert Kocharyan’s application

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17:59,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. The Constitutional Court of Armenia has made a decision to delay the examination of the application of 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan until September 3, 11:00, ARMENPRESS was informed from the website of the Constitutional Court of Armenia.

The decision is based on the necessity to carry out extra examinations.

Robert Kocharyan’s applications is about checking the constitutionality of applying preventive measure against him.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Free trade zone to be established near Gyumri airport

Free trade zone to be established near Gyumri airport

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20:29,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. The Cabinet will discuss the draft decision on establishing a free trade zone in Gyumri, recognizing “Eurasian Logistics Park Free Economic Zone” LTD as the organizer of the free trade zone, ARMENPRESS reports the draft decision is included on the agenda of August 29 Cabinet meeting.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




‘We are moving forward with quite a good pace’: Pashinyan introduces economic indicators

‘We are moving forward with quite a good pace’: Pashinyan introduces economic indicators

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10:14,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan introduced the economic indicators of July, stating that the government is moving forward with quite a good pace.

“The economic figures of July are quite impressive. We have 8.1% economic activity index. This is a perfect figure.

In addition, there is

16.1% growth in industrial production volume

4.1% – construction

9.1%- trade turnover

14.9%- services

8%- average nominal salary

19.5%- export

These are really very good figures. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we have solved all issues. This means that we are moving forward. With quite a good pace”, the PM said on Facebook.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




A1+: It’s not nice to admire yourself in the mirror – Tigran Mansuryan (video)

Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan says honestly that he likes Tigran Mansuryan’s film music more than his other works.

“I get excited every time when listening to that musi. The same thing happened also in the yard of the National Assembly, I hardly managed not to cry,” he says.

Although the world recognizes the maestro through his other music, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arayik Harutyunyan also prefers to listen to Tigran Mansuryan’s film music.

“When we listen to that music, we go back to our childhood, and it’s always fun to go back to childhood, because childhood is more carefree, one is happier there,” the minister emphasized.

The maestro himself does not make much difference between his works, as he notes, all are his “children,” whom the public “loves.”

In addition, the maestro notes that his works are related to Armenia and the Armenian reality.

“Consequently, they were loved because they were ‘born’ in this land,” notes the composer.

Tigran Mansuryan confesses that he has no habit of listening to the music he composes, as he does not want to go back to the past.

“There is one thing: when you ‘hear’ your past, you don’t want to meet with it again because you notice the flaws. It’s not nice to admire yourself in the mirror, it’s a sad thing,” he says.