2019 Eurasia Adventure - Foodie Post One

You think that there has been a distinct lack of foodie activity going on based on the posts so far. You would be WRONG! No I have been saving things up for a Foodie Spectacular to grace this blog. So lets go over our first week of eating,

Azerbaijan

Lots of grilled meats, fried fish, roasted vegetables

We enjoyed our meals very much

Qutab

A filled pancake

Can have meat, cheese or greens

We liked the greens variety the best though we could not for the life of us figure out what the green was

 Properly eaten after sprinkling some sumac, salt and pepper is rolling it up and eating it with your hands

 The Sadj Meal

Meat or chicken cooked in a pan along with grilled vegetables and potatoes

The meat/poultry always is cut in a way with the bone unfamiliar to us

You are expected to use your hands as part of eating it and get a towelette at the end of the meal to clean up

 Azerbaijani Bread

Very gluttonous and chewy. Very good

 Lentil Soup

 More bread - this time warm and crusty on the outside

 Pilaf with Lamb and Greens

Pretty sure the greens were sorrel

The lamb was not strong flavored at all

 A Shishkabab of Potatoes and Fat

Only for those of us with our immigrant food roots tight

The fat comes from the famous Fat Tailed Sheep of the region and holds its shape as it is being cooked

One bite of fat with one potato slice

 Fried fish

Wife had it twice

This one was not as good as the first time which she pronounced great

Georgia

The cuisine of Georgia is marked by a love of cheese and cheese in bread

Also incredibly large quantities of food

Any main dish had enough food for two people

A typical salad with lots of chopped walnuts

Very lightly dressed

Enjoyed very much

 One of many many kinds of Khachapuri

We had it twice

Sad to admit although this is a dish renowned in Georgian cuisine

I found it too cheesy and heavy for my taste

 Phakali

An assortment of cold chopped vegetable pate sort of things

Can include spinach, eggplant, beet among others

 Kinkali

Dumplings with broth in them like Shanghai Soup Dumplings but a bit heavier

DON'T STICK A FORK IN THEM FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

We don't need an international incident

Pick it up by the thick end

Turn over

Sprinkle with pepper

Take a small bite out of the bottom side

Blow into it to get it cooled down

Drink up the broth

Eat the remaining dumpling

Your hand will get messy

Don't worry about it

 If you remember your Turkish 'Kebab' means roasted

Roasted meats and vegetable especially on skewers is prevalent

The subtle marinade was very penetrating in its flavor but not over powering

Chicken

 Pork

 I was told this was a 'craft brew' and very good

 It was! Especially if you like beers with hops

 This is a single serving of 'fried' chicken

More like grilled

Wonderful nonetheless

Wife and I had this for lunch one day

We ate every freaking piece!

 And all these roasted vegetables too!

Good thing we are putting on miles and miles of walking each day