Lunch Time: Seasoning Food with Beautiful Stories
Each of us has our own preferences and choices in every aspect of life. Similarly, when it comes to food, everyone has their favorite dishes and flavor combinations. Food has always been a source of energy; it can bring positive emotions and influence the mood of the entire day.
Are you tired of your usual Yerevan lunch breaks and looking for new places?
This time, I would like to introduce places near Yerevan where you can easily organize a quick visit and enjoy lunch.
The places I have selected preserve Armenia’s cultural traditions and share them with their guests. Here you can taste dishes from Armenian cuisine as well as discover a wide selection of Armenian wines.
This is not simply a list of restaurants where I have eaten, but a collection of unique places that stand out through their hospitality and the celebration of Armenian flavors.
Aragatsotn Province, Tatoents House
We are heading to Aragatsotn Province, to the town of Ashtarak. Before you order your meal, Mrs. Hripsime will share the 200-year-old history of her house:
“The cellar that forms the foundation of the ‘Tatoents House’ building was built in 1837. It is here that you can enjoy delicious dishes paired with wine.”
Mrs. Hripsime introduced me to the process of making sujukh, an old Armenian sweet delicacy. I discovered that sweet sujukh is a traditional Armenian dessert, usually prepared in autumn when walnuts and fruits are ripe.
I will say nothing about Ashtarak’s walnuts — they are so famous that they are mentioned in folk songs, and you can find walnut trees in almost every yard.
The walnuts are split, a needle is threaded with a double strand of thread, and a knot is tied. The walnuts are then threaded onto the string. The walnut strings are placed into the syrup, and the syrup is poured over them with a spoon. After dipping, they are carefully removed. If you want a thicker coating, the process is repeated several times. Drying sujukh takes 10–15 days, which is a great reason to return to Ashtarak again.
Tatoents Qotuk
Karen Hakobyan
Tel։ 096 11 21 49
Facebook: TatoentsQotuk
Aragatsotn Province, Old Ashtarak
The balcony of Old Ashtarak has a 150-year history and still stands today. Dalar explains that the restaurant was founded by her husband Hovik Aroyan and his family, and that it carries a deep meaning — perseverance, continuity, and the warmth passed down through generations.
Here you can taste the best dishes of Armenian and Syrian cuisine. The restaurant also organizes master classes on making ishli kufta.
Make a reservation in advance and come to try cheese mampul, ashil bulbul, zhayfura, and many other delicious dishes.
Ararat Province, Noyan Vaz
Before your meal, a short tour of the vineyards will be organized, where you will hear the story of this traditional Armenian family.
Harut’s grandfather Jivan moved from Vayots Dzor to Ararat and brought grape vines with him in order to continue the family winemaking tradition.
Today, Harut produces wine called “Jivan” from the grapes planted by his grandfather. With great enthusiasm, he continues the family story.
It turns out that when his grandfather was born, his father was already in poor health. After planting the grapevine, he told his wife:
“Let Jivan grow up and enjoy my love through this grapevine.”
Here, you can personally experience bottling wine and attaching your own label. The lunch is ready — let’s head to the kitchen.
This article was created within the framework of the “My Armenia” program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Smithsonian Institution. The content of this article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the Smithsonian Institution, or the United States Government.
