The presentation of Kristine Grigoryan's book

The presentation took place at the Levon Kalantar Drama Theater. The hall was crowded with intellectuals from the town, the author's classmates, and close friends. Artak Aleksanyan, the head of the Publishing House, conducted the presentation.

Kristine Grigoryan has conveyed the recipes of her mother and grandmother, as well as the tastes and aromas of the kitchen, through a book containing recipes, stories, and the flavors of Gavar.

"The book contains the secrets of traditional and author's cuisine, and I have artistically presented the cooking methods. Cooking traditional dishes and inventing new recipes helped me overcome the longing for relatives in a foreign land and maintain my Armenian identity."

 

She had decided to write a book a long time ago. After moving to the USA, she realized she faced the challenge of raising her children with Armenian traditions. Traditions and kitchen secrets were also an opportunity to pass on to her children, and the book was the best way to do so.

"People abroad easily assimilate and lose their national identity. Longing for my mother, grandmother, and our father's house also played a big role in the creation of the book. I wanted to evoke the aromas and flavors of childhood and avoid loneliness and alienation".

According to Kristine Grigoryan, Gavar has a rich and traditional cuisine, but Armenians themselves are often unaware of it. "The book is not only for housewives but for a wide audience. It is rich in ethnographic materials, and especially now, in the era of globalization, the distinct features of many nations are disappearing. We must preserve our own identity, and we can do so through the kitchen."

The book will also help pass on the secrets of traditional Armenian cuisine to the next generation. By the way, Armenian, Russian, and English versions of the book have been published and are available not only in bookstores but also on newmag.am.