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Within the frames of the Days of Armenian Culture on May 27-28, Moscow restaurant Assunta Madre held the first gastronomical experiment Gourmet Fest, which became a step towards the creation of a unique menu connecting traditional Armenian and the haute cuisines.
Non-governmental organization Armenian Assembly organized the Days of Armenian Culture with the participation and support of the Embassy of Armenia in Russia and the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church.
A one of its kind gastronomic evening, Gourmet Fest was attended by owners and chefs of Michelin Star restaurants Karen Torosyan (Bozar Restaurant, Brussels, Belgium) and Stefano Ciotti (Nostrano Restaurant, Pesaro, Italy), chefs of leading restaurants in Armenia (Chinar, The Club, Mayrig, Lavash) and chef cook Narek Avagyan from Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow.
“Armenian cuisine is my heritage. My specialty is the French cuisine, but there are Armenian accents left in it,” said Karen Torosyan.
The organizers held a round table for representatives of restaurant industry on May 27, during which they discussed professional matters and a gastronomical evening on May 28.
“This kind of forums should be carried out systematically to achieve our common objective, which is popularization of Armenian cuisine in the world, its representation as a brand. Many countries are famous for their national cuisine, and ours is on par with them. Moreover, it has advantages: Armenian cuisine is one of the healthiest, because Armenia is very rich with organic products,” said David Yeremyan, founder and owner of Yeremyan Projects (“Tavern Yerevan” restaurants chain, restaurants “Lavash”, “Sherep”, “Smoking Chief”).
David Yeremyan
The menu combined Armenian gastronomical traditions and culinary techniques common in Italy and France. The dinner started with cold appetizers: ceviche from Armenian whitefish with crayfish neck and special basil filling, oysters with buckwheat and sturgeon caviar, and Armenian trout marinated with citruses as per the Gravlax technique, after which the guests were served hot appetizers, crispy aubergines with sheep cheese and walnut spices.
Tina Kandelaki and Nobel Arustamyan
The main dish of the evening was the Risotto from Armenian hachar with parmesan, lamb confit and mountain mushrooms from Dilijan. As for the desserts, the guests were offered Fraisier with mulberry and milk pudding with pistachio and rose petal jam.
During the evening, the guests enjoyed famous Zorah Yeraz wines and the legendary brandy Ararat Aznavour Signature Blend.
Kamo Avagumyan, Samvel Karapetyan and Mikhail Fridman
Gourmet Fest was attended by president and founder of “Tashir group” Samvel Karapetyan, co-owner and chair of the Supervisory Board of “Alfa Group” consortium Mikhail Fridman, entrepreneur, member of the Presidium of Armenian Assembly Vahe Yengibaryan, owner of “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” Konstantin Remchukov, General Director of the State Tretyakov Gallery Zelfira Tregulova, restaurateurs Boris Zarkov, Alexander Sorkin and Alexander Rappoport, managing director of Yandex Tigran Khudaverdyan, producer Ruben Dishdishyan, Ambassador of Armenia in Russia Vardan Toganyan, musician, composer and producer, member of the Presidium of Armenian Assembly Stas Namin, as well as Ksenia Sobchak, Andrey Malakhov and Tina Kandelaki.
Ksenia Sobchak
Photos: Armenian Assembly
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