Uzbekistan Is Home To Some Of The Most Beautiful Foods I’ve Ever Eaten!⁣

We found a roadside cafe which wasn’t even on the map! I expect traveller after traveller has blindly driven, cycled or walked straight past because there wasn’t any signage to suggest it was a cafe. Ever the optimist I walked through the door into an empty room. On the right there was a window to another room, I presumed a kitchen and pictures of an egg on the wall. It kinda looked like a cafe! A young woman jumped when she saw me poking my head through the window, I don’t think she sees many customers.

The dining space wasn’t what we were used to, essentially a stage/platform with a large rug lay down and tables low to the ground so you can dine from the floor.⁣

I followed the waitresses behaviour as she kicked off her shoes, stepped into the platform and laid our table and what I can only describe as a thin mattress for us to sit on and eat.⁣

I had no idea what I was ordering. There wasn’t a menu or any pictures of the meals so when she sent me on google translate “Lagman soup” and “manta rays” I went for that. ⁣

Manta rays…my phone has consistently translated a meal as “manta rays” and Stew and I have laughed out loud. I just laughed again as I wrote it here. They’re obviously not eating manta rays in Uzbekistan – Uzbekistan is completely landlocked by other ‘Stan countries.⁣

Our food was served so beautifully and it was delicious! The young women serving were sisters I think, I’d guess they were 12 and 16. As we waited for our food I could hear them talking and laughing together; it was delightful.

Until this day I was ordering Plov (oily rice, carrots and beef), but now I order delicious noodles. I’ve been warned though – all we will have is noodles soon, so we should enjoy rice while we’ve still got it! ⁣

By the way, the food is called “manti” not “manta rays” as Google translate thinks! ⁣It’s very good – essentially a pasta pocket stuffed with mince and onions, served with yoghurt.

⁣ @ Uzbekistan