On what turned out to be one of the final episodes of “Parts Unknown,” Anthony Bourdain flew to Armenia. He toured the ancient country—wedged between Turkey, Georgia and Iran—in the company of Armenian American rock star Serj Tankian from System of a Down. Bourdain remarked that he was expecting Armenia to be a “meat on a stick” nation. Tankian, who doesn’t eat red meat, smiled. While it’s true that shish-kabob has always been the party food of choice among Armenians, Armenian cookbooks are filled with vegetarian and vegan entrées.
A wide sampling of that nation’s culinary traditions will be served this Sunday at Armenian Fest. The annual event features plenty of meat, including chicken and beef shish-kabob, luleh kabob (ground beef) and lahmajoon (similar to a beef tortilla). But there will also be lentil kufta (a patty of lentils, cracked wheat, onions and olive oil), cheese and cheese-and-spinach boreg (served in flat squares), Near Eastern salad (drizzled in olive oil and lemon), homemade hummus and hand-rolled yalangee (grape leaves stuffed with rice, tomato and parsley). The fresh-from-the-kitchen desserts start with the baklava familiar from Greek and Middle Eastern restaurants but ranges into more exotic realms with sweet cookies and pastries such as kadayif, shakerlama and nazoog.
Armenian beer will be among the beverages offered. Chicago’s Hye Vibes will perform traditional Armenian music through the afternoon and the Hamazkayin Sardarabad Dance Ensemble will perform at 3:13 p.m. Armenian Fest also features church tours and a culture booth selling books, artifacts and Armenian wine by the bottle.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 22 on the grounds and in the culture hall of St. John the Baptist Armenian Orthodox Church, 7825 W. Layton Ave. Parking and admission are free.
