Georgia

Food and Winter’s Charm

My first winter adventure was not just fun-filled but flavor-filled as well! Considering I grew up in a tropical country and got used to the middle eastern climate, traveling solo to Georgia in a snowy and windy weather is a new experience for me but it turned out to be one my best travel adventures. I didn’t just indulge with myself with activities I haven’t done before, I made sure I indulged myself with good food too.

I get way too much happiness from good food

Elizabeth Olsen

Though I didn’t have much opportunity to try a greater variety of Georgian cuisine as I’m on a short visit, I did enjoy some of the country’s notable dishes.

Khachapuri Adjaruli is one the traditional dishes in Georgia. It is a canoe shaped dough, filled with cheese, topped with cracked raw egg and butter. To enjoy this dish, just mix the filling vigorously using a spoon, tear the bread and dip it in the mixture! I tried this dish at Sakachapure Restaurant in Eastpoint, Tbilisi.

If you love dumplings like I do, you better not miss trying this Georgian soup dumpling, Khinkali. I impressed our group during our lunch at Alani Restaurant by perfectly eating Khinkali on my first try. So how do you eat Khinkali? Just bite or make a small hole in the side, slurp out the broth (make sure it is not too hot), enjoy the filling and discard the top knot. 

I was absolutely curious to know what these are the moment I saw them in the streets of Tbilisi.


Churchkhela, a popular Georgian sweet is a colorful confection made of concentrated grapefruits and the exterior resembles a wax. I actually thought these were candles!


Georgia also produces delicious and diverse dried fruits called Chiri. It is another popular Georgian sweet which you will find hanging on the street market.

Lobiani is a bean-filled bread. Its main ingredient is kidney beans (lobio). Lobiani and Georgian cheese bread (or cheese pie) were served daily at the hotel were I stayed. I also liked the Georgian maize porridge.

Mtsvadi (Georgian Kebab): I had taste of this tender and well-seasoned meat in skewers roasted in open fire at Tavaduri Restaurant, Ethnographic Park, Sighnaghi. They serve excellent food. The green tossed salad was delicious and refreshing.

The Kebab in pita bread in Time Out Hotel, Gudauri Ski Resort tastes good too.

GEORGIAN WINES

Wine tasting when visiting Georgia is a must!

The most well-known region for producing Georgian wine is Kakheti.

It took us about two hours to reach Kakheti due to the thick snow on roads but I certainly didn’t mind traveling that long as my whole attention was engrossed by watching and admiring the snow capped mountains, villages and other fascinating scenes on the road.


We stopped over at Shumi winery in Tsinandali village, Kakheti. The whole place is covered in snow but I am sure it looks lovelier when it’s not winter as it has a vineyard and a garden. They offer free wine tasting. We tried 4-5 wines and I particularly liked the Kindzmarauli red semi-sweet wine.

There is plenty of wine tasting tours for visitors to join and have opportunities to taste the best wines in Georgia. Aside from Kakheti, I also had a chance to visit The Chamber of Wine, Mtskheta. It is well-decorated place, offering a wide variety of wines and has a restaurant too.

What made my first winter adventure great apart from the food and wine tasting?

I spent moments with new acquaintances playing in the snow, I guess that is something both adults and kids love. They were such sweet and charming ladies and I truly enjoyed my time with them.


I had a picture taken riding a horse, pretending I am a warrior (princess)

of some sort :-)


I even sent it to my family and friends saying “Caption this!”



I also slipped on snow when I and the group I was with walked uphill to the Ethnograpic park in Sighnagi. It was funny when it happened but cost me a broken fingernail (nothing serious though that spoiled all the fun or stopped me from eating my Mtsvadi).

The highlight of my winter adventure was obviously the tandem paragliding at Gudauri Ski Resort. I guess I had to give myself lots of credit for having enough courage to do it. Nothing at that moment could have provided a great deal of fun and excitement than having a panoramic view of the mountains and what surrounds me at that time.

Georgia is such a splendid country. Learning a few things about its history and culture; relishing unique flavors of its traditional food and wines; several tours of ancient churches, medieval monasteries and picturesque mountains; most of all meeting new people - these were all delightful experiences I genuinely cherish.