Gata — Food and Fascination from Armenian folklore.

“If someone gives you the bitter bile, you, in return, serve him with a sweet.”

This age old saying stems back to the earliest days in Armenia. Sweets are not just important but are also one of the most integral part of the Armenain culture.

While the temperature is soaring here in Delhi, we are bringing in a few much needed summer recipes on our menu. However some things as staple as Gata, cannot be removed from the menu at Lavaash no matter which season it is. Talking of summer foods, we are always complimented on our specially flavoured ice creams and how they compliment Chefs Gata. So we decided to make this story about Gata..

Pronounced as Gata-h, also in some parts of Georgia and neighbouring states as Kata-h is one of the oldest and most celebrated desserts. A simple recipe made of flour, sugar, butter and cheese. It is baked and eaten on all occasions, on weddings and birthdays it is a must.

Funnily enough, Armenians are great at most of the western European style, they are aware however deeply inept to create middle eastern/oriental style of desserts. Armenian women are great pastry chefs, where the most of the desserts in the rural areas are not ornamental and consists of fewer and fresher ingredients. On the other hand, City folk Armenians are great at preserving and working on green-grocery ingredient which are not always seasonal. On the same note they also are great at processing, hence , string cheese, purees, stuffed vegetables and pickles are part of almost all the Armenian meals.

Coming back to the idea of pastry and Armenian sweets, it is a matter of great fascination. The decorativeness of the desserts and pies talk a lot about the hosts of the dinner. Also, if one gets up without dessert from an Armenian meal, it is considered offensive and an indication that the guests did not like the meal.

Gata as a lot of Armenian researches and accounts say, is the most staple of these long table suppers.

The chefs Gata at Lavaash is our interpretation of the gata with a little bit of a Bengali touch. The filling inside our gata is very similar to chhena, the Bengali cheese that is used in almost all mithais in Bengal. Which is why you get a very comforting feeling when you eat it just like the feeling you get when you eat something that your mother or grandmother have made.

Our gata is also not rolled up and baked like the traditional gata in Armenia. It is baked like a patty with the filling enclosed inside. We have also served it in a very rustic manner on a wooden board with a stone plate to add to the charm of this unique dessert.

Have you tried our Gata as yet?

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