Armenia
Working in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, CDP sent Chefs Amanda Freitag and Lauren Radel to learn about the people of Armenia and also share their American culture. On this trip they experienced many different traditional dishes like lavash bread, a staple of Armenian cuisine, and got firsthand instruction on how to make it. They also met with local producers of honey and chocolate, and spent a day exploring the GUM Market, which is one of the oldest food markets in Armenia. They walked the market and met with many of the vendors, several of whom were women, and they also sampled a variety of items including cheeses, pickled vegetables, and dried fruits.
Additionally, the chefs participated in numerous events such as the Culinary Entrepreneurship Workshop hosted by the U.S. Embassy, which covered topics from how to create a business plan, how to manage kitchen staff, incorporating sustainable food practices and how to promote your food business. Chef Amanda hosted and judged a “Chopped” style competition with culinary students at the Yeremyan Academy. They also attended the Yerevan Wine Days Festival, which hosted over 50 winemakers representing the diversity of Armenia wines, where Chef Amanda also showcased one of her favorite American dishes.