“Dishes of the East”

This was the title of a two-day international food festival held in Samarkand.

More than 100 chefs prepared over 50 dishes. Master classes, international dish presentations, handicraft displays, oriental sweets, cultural and entertainment programs, and an awards ceremony for the most active participants took place.

Chairman of the Сhefs Association of Uzbekistan, Akbar Umarov, awarded 18 chefs with certificates titled “Ambassador of Samarkand Cuisine Abroad” and gifts from Samarkand region’s hokimiyat.

“Samarkand, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is known worldwide for its rich history and unique architectural monuments”, says Mr. Umarov. “The festival aimed to develop gastronomic tourism in Samarkand and to include Samarkand dishes in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List”.

At the scientific and practical conference with the participation of international scholars and chefs, an agreement was made to expand cooperation and promote well-known Samarkand dishes abroad.

G. Khasanov, photos by A. Isroilov, UzA