The festival is being held in the capital for the second time. The World Abaza Congress and the Ekzekov Foundation are among the partners of the event.
Esma Golandziia
These days, Sukhum has become a real center of attraction for gourmets and delicious food lovers, a place where flavours, musical rhythms and the hot August sun intertwine. A massive feast with the participation of eminent and novice chefs unfolded around the fountain on the Sergey Bagapsh square.
Aylaj, fried red mullet, shashlik, mussels, pilaf, pancakes, khinkali and khachapurs - visitors could taste a variety of dishes cooked right before their eyes. The meal was complemented by watermelons cooled in the fountain and wine from the best producers of the country.
Many people gathered at the site - guests came with their whole families, there were many children at the event who curiously followed the events.
"We are from Samara, we were on holiday in Gagra these days when heard about the festival and decided to come. We will be happy to choose some dishes and probably will give preference to meat. In such weather, watermelon is also very tempting, we were told that it is Abkhazian, we will definitely try it," said the Korotkov family.
A small fair was open together with the gastronomic delights, where local natural products, souvenirs, designer jewelry and eco-accessories were presented. This is a unique opportunity not only to try, but also to grab a piece of traditional and modern Abkhazian culture.
The gastrofestival was attended by the President of Abkhazia Badra Gunba and the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Russia Sergey Kiriyenko. Then the delegation solemnly met the passenger ship Kometa in the Sukhum seaport, which made its first voyage from Sochi in thirty years.
The main goals of the festival are to introduce the diverse Abkhazian cuisine and local products, create a gastronomic attraction for residents and guests of the capital, and promote Abkhazian chefs and restaurateurs.
"The Gastrofestival is an additional tool for attracting tourists. Mass events, including those related to national cuisine, have a positive effect on the promotion of Abkhazia and contribute to the growth of interest in the republic. This, in turn, is reflected in the increase in the number of tourists," said one of the organizers of the event, Khibla Vozba.
The World Abaza Congress and the Ekzekov Foundation were among the event's partners.
"This is already the second Gastrofestival that is being held in Sukhum this year. This time, the World Abaza Congress and the Ekzekov Foundation acted as its official partners and sponsors. We are very happy to take part in this wonderful festival, because it allows to promote our culture and demonstrate national cuisine to everyone. I am sure that such events and the festival in particular will become traditional," said the head of the Sukhum office of the WAC Temur Rekvava.
Cheerful music, gastronomic discoveries, happy faces of guests and participants - all this created a feeling of a real holiday. A striking conclusion to the day was the grand opening of the sea light and music fountain, donated to the capital by the "Tavrida" art cluster.
Sukhum gastronomic festival is available for visiting until August 8.
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