Georgia is famous for its cuisine, offering different dishes that are cooked using unique and indigenous species, seasoned with aromatic wild herbs that give them an unforgettable flavor.
Georgian cuisine stretches its roots into antiquity. Throughout the centuries Georgians formed strongly-kept recipes and proceedings that are always preserved.
Moreover, Georgian dishes are healthy, with yoghurts, grains and numerous fresh and dried vegetables. Bread is normally eaten with every meal. Though the food & cuisine in Georgia uses a lot of meat, it is also possible for vegetarians to find plenty of tasty dishes.
Below are listed popular Georgian dishes and drinks loved by both the locals and the foreigners. Be careful not to eat too much in the beginning, the table miraculously fills itself with new varieties of dishes that you won't like to miss! Eating out in Tbilisi will be a joyous occasion filled with great food, music and laughter!
Supra
Georgian feast called ‘Supra' is a ceremony, arranged and led with a toast-master called ‘Tamada', toasting at memorable events.
Traditional Georgian folk dances, embodiment of Georgians' nature and inner nobility, are performed during the feast. Tradition of Georgian feast is one of the most essential events that Georgians gave from generation to generation and which is still very much alive, though not followed very strictly all the time. The supra is also a very good occasion to overcome barriers of communication and make many friends in one evening.
Popular dishes
Mains
Badridjani -aubergine cooked using hazel / walnuts and greens
Pkhali - Spinach stewed and seasoned with hazel, walnuts and different flavorings
Mtsvadi - meat grilled to perfection over vine sticks, served together with ‘Tkemali' (typical Georgian sauce of sour plum, enriched with herbs such as coriander, parsley and other powdered herbs) and wine.
Khinkali - dough pockets filled with mixture of minced pork and meat or lamb with or without flavorings. Is powdered with black pepper and is especially tasty when accompanied with beer. Together with Mtsvadi and Khachapuri, Khinkali is a visit card of Georgian cuisine.
Qababi - minced meat seasoned with different flavorings, roasted and wrapped in a pastry
Khachapuri - traditional Georgian cheese-cake, famous for its varieties found in different parts of Georgia (lobiani - with bean paste)
Lobio - beans cooked with onions, garlic, greens and different flavorings, sometimes cooked in a pot
Soko - Mushrooms with cheese or walnuts, often fried in the pot
Baje - mixture of minced hazel and walnuts together with onion, garlic and other herbs, cooked as sauce. Baje is poured over fried chicken.
Elarji - maize porridge cheese or ‘sulguni' (smoked cheese) sliced in it.
Desserts
Pelamushi - grape must
Churchkhela - hazel or nuts stringed on a thread, wrapped in grape must
Nazuqi - pastry in a shape of bread stuffed with nuts and honey
Matsoni - sour yoghurt
Popular drinks
Wine
Different kinds of Georgian wine, influenced by the publicly-acknowledged fact that tradition of wine culture emerged from Georgian. ‘Ghvino' is made in every Georgian family. In Kakheti Region, East Georgia, wine is poured in century-old vessels called ‘Qvevri' (that are dug in a ground up to the top) and are sealed for three or four months. Kakheti Region is especially rich in grape species: Saperavi, Rqatsiteli, Aladasturi, while in the West Georgia traditional Georgian ‘Adessa' is harvested, ‘Khvanchkara' is available in Racha, West of Georgia.
It is up to you to choose among white, red or black wine. And always remember: Wine is good for your health.
Beer
Beer in Tbilisi is available, brewed with the standards use in Georgian mountains or from modern breweries. Main brands are Kazbegi, Natakhtari, Argo, Herzog
Araqi / Chacha - is a grape brand 'Grappa' which is usually quite strong.
Nightlife in Tbilisi
Tbilisi nightlife can be quite drab. Very few small restaurants and bars in Tbilisi are active and with the University students taking off during the vacations, the scene is quite calm. However, large hotels like the Sheraton Metechi have their own nightclubs and bars that are frequented by the wealthy locals and expatriates.
