Armenian Food, Manners, and More!!

Are you hungry for information on Armenian Food?

By: Skylar Bartman, Alyssa Watson, , and

Rebecca Zeigler

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Introducing. . . Armenian Food!!

Armenian food is very different from American Food. They have food that you’ve never even heard of before! They eat TONS more food than we do; food is very important to them. Welcome to Armenian food. Let’s eat!

Popular FoodsEarly spring and late fall produce a variety of fruit; grapes, peaches, apples, pears, cherries, mulberries (similar to blackberries), walnuts, figs, and strawberries. Apricots are a native fruit in Armenia.

Pomegranate in Armenia is a symbol of life, maternity (motherhood), prosperity (good fortune), and love.

Staple foods include greens, fish, beef, cabbage, and lavish.

Common foods include, harissa (hot chili sauce), kyabab (minced beef fried on a pan), khorovats (chunks of meat grilled on a stewer), and dolma (rice stuffed grape leafs). Basturma (highly seasoned, air-dried cured beef), Sujukh (threaded walnuts dipped in sweet spiced fruit syrup coating and dried), Kufta (kabob ground lamb and beef mixed with onions, parsley, and house spices) are also popular foods.

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DrinksArmenians drink all sorts of coffee, but thick coffee served in a small cup is most customary. Tea is also popular. Did you know, that Armenians drink soft drinks as well? Cola, Pepsi, and Fanta are a nice drink to have on a hot day. Armenian adults love alcoholic drinks like brandy and wine.

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Restaurants and Home Cooking

Restaurants are much improved but expensive.

Typical meals in restaurants can run to $30 or more per person. Restaurants have table cloths, printed menus, and a serving staff. Sometimes they have live bands that play a variety of songs, including Armenian traditional music.

The best food in Armenia is home cooking. No Restaurant can begin to compete with lavish attention and extraordinary dishes Armenians create in their kitchens. Their tables often groan under the weight of several courses at a time.

Breakfast

Most breakfasts make do with a cup of coffee, bread and jam, fish, pickled vegetable omelets, and other things like these. When the day has just begun the children are given butter, honey or jam, bread, cheese, and boiled eggs with warm milk.

Lunch and Dinner

Traditionally, midday meals like lunch, are light.Dinners are an extremely important meal in

Armenia. Usually beginning with an appetizer that features herbs, cheese, sliced sausages, prepared bean and vegetable salads, and bread. First course is usually soup. The main course is a variation of meat or fish, though sometimes there are two main courses. Tradition demands that fruit and dessert always complete the menu along with coffee and sweets.

Late Meals

Customary, late meals before sleeping are very light. A usual late meal includes walnut jam, which is made from green walnuts that are boiled in syrup until tender as plums. It’s a true traditional dish found only in Armenia.

Manners and Eating Style

Armenians eat continental style, with fork in the left hand, and knife in the right hand. Hands and wrists are to be on the table, but elbows cannot be on the table.

Armenians are sociable and gregarious hostesses. They treat their guests graciously and kindly.

Armenians are emotional and often use their eyes, hands, shoulders, and heads to express themselves. Men and Women think it is rude to raise your forefinger over their heads. Body movements in formal settings are impolite. Chewing gum in public is impolite, and putting feet up on the furniture. Men and sometimes women stand when an older person enters the room. People remove their hats when entering a building. It is considered rude for a women to smoke in public, but a man can smoke almost anywhere. It is also considered rude to refuse to taste anything of which the cook has prepared for you.

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FUN FACTS!!

• Armenians are flexible with their schedule, so even if you’re 30 minutes late for a huge event it’s fine.

• Armenians appreciate when you eat ALL the food on your plate, then compliment the host.

• It is polite when asked to someone’s house to dress conservatively (with most of your skin covered).

• Some restaurants are divided by gender.• Tipping isn’t common in Armenia