Chef Zarmig Ohannes Haladjian, the half Armenian and half Lebanese chef whose restaurant Mamig in Doha has been capturing eyeballs for quite some time recently traveled to India during the World Association of Chefs conference and her food quite literally ticked off all the points on her taste buds. But a single meal wasn’t going to satisfy us. So when Chef Zarmig decided to come back to the Novotel Delhi Aerocity for a Lebanese and Armenian festival across two weekends, we were definitely going to be present.

What we tried out at the Armenian and Lebanese Food Festival?

Although both of these Middle Eastern cuisines are flush with spices, they do not inculcate the spicy heat of the Indian cuisine. Similarities do exist between the two, but a subtle change of spices helps separate Lebanese food from Armenian. We started off with a range of salads that ranged from the umami of lamb in the along with a sour Hummus to get the taste buds awake and the salivary glands working. A range of hot and cold appetisers then made its way to the table with the Armenian Lebneh and Fishne Kebbe taking top honours. The use of cottage cheese is quite common in the Middle East and it was displayed in the

The mains included traditional Armenian Spicy Verevan Kebab, Khashkhash Kebab, Matzounov Kebab, Samkeh Harra and Kabbeh Zeghertawiye. But the highlight of the evening was opening the pumpkin for a delectable dish of rice and apricots within it. Both the countries are really proud of their desserts and we were treated to a sugary fantasyland with Sari Bourma, Gatnabour, Engoize, Chocolate Gololag, Palouza, Nouranoush, Khoshav.

Where: Food Exchange, Novotel Delhi Aerocity

Price For 2: INR 2000