Do you know any Armenian? Or a person with Armenian origin? I do. Bulgarian Armenians are a very interesting community. What distinguishes the Armenians?
First, you can recognize an Armenian by its surname - it always ends with -yan. Like Karekinyan, Ovanesyan, Papazyan, Zenopyan... And their
first names sound strange for an unfamiliar ear: Hovanna, Vartuhi, Frengyul, Garabed, Vartan, Zadik, Kevork and so on.
Second, they have a strong sense of community. For example, the Armenians in my town Haskovo have a church, called "Surp Stepanos", and a Community center "Ararat". And this is for reason - they came here in a hard times, so identity and solidarity were their tools to survive..
The Armenian church in Haskovo
Third, there are no Armenians - peasants in Bulgaria. As refugees, they settled in the towns and they all became citizens - intellectuals, craftsmen, and workers. Up to this day, I do not know any Armenian in this country who lives in a village.
Fourth, when you get to know them, you'll find that they have a great music, great dances... and a great cuisine! Via my friends +Mary Panduleva, +Petya Panduleva and +Simon Zenopian, last year I entered the magical world of the Armenian food during the culinary exhibition "The Armenian cuisine and I" in Haskovo.
And fifth, the Armenians easily adopt new influences and to add them to their own culture. The exhibition proved that they enrich their cuisine with new elements, but keep the essential fundamentals of their original, many centuries old food culture!
And fifth, the Armenians easily adopt new influences and to add them to their own culture. The exhibition proved that they enrich their cuisine with new elements, but keep the essential fundamentals of their original, many centuries old food culture!
Images say more than words:
SALADS:
MAIN COURSES:
SWEETS:
By the end of the exhibition everything was eaten.
CONCLUSION
Armenian food is tasty and diverse after millennia of cultural encounters in the Middle East, and I strongly recommend it! This food connects people. It feeds the sense of community among these several hundreds Armenians in Haskovo today. So if you pass around, don't forget to ask for the Armenian church and Community center, and maybe you'll get into some exciting Armenian celebration with food, songs, and dances :)
More about Armenian cuisine: here.
SALADS:
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| Armenian salad with manna croup |
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| Salad by hadzhi Snezhana Garabed |
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| Salad with sea gifts and clams |
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| Salad with carrots and beet |
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| Armenian meatballs |
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| Armenian dolma (sarma) |
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| Armenian byorek (banitsa) |
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| Beans (Fasul pacha) |
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| Havgite dolma |
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| Potato balls |
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| Armenian pasta with walnuts, garlic, and yellow cheese |
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| Stuffed eggplant Armenian style ( Karnı Yarık) |
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| Pirog with meat |
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| Stuffed clams with rice |
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| Gata |
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| Armenian sweet bread |
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| Armenian sweet bread |
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| Armenian sweet bread |
SWEETS:
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| Aganch |
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| Baklava |
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| Armenian "dry" baklava |
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| Armenian cake |
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| Armenian ribbons |
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| Armenian ribbons |
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| White sweets |
By the end of the exhibition everything was eaten.
CONCLUSION
Armenian food is tasty and diverse after millennia of cultural encounters in the Middle East, and I strongly recommend it! This food connects people. It feeds the sense of community among these several hundreds Armenians in Haskovo today. So if you pass around, don't forget to ask for the Armenian church and Community center, and maybe you'll get into some exciting Armenian celebration with food, songs, and dances :)
More about Armenian cuisine: here.
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