holy grail of comfort food. Dive in with your hands, ripping off
pieces of crust and mopping up the molten mess of cheese,
egg and butter.
We all experience the feeling of shemomechama,
which roughly translates to ‘I unintentionally ate the whole
thing’. It’s also a fitting name for this hole-in-the-wall diner
specialising in khinkali – traditional Georgian dumplings,
filled with minced beef, lamb, cheese or potatoes. Hot tip:
pierce the side of the dumpling with your teeth and slurp
up the juices, before biting down into the tender, fragrant filling.
“This place has made a big change in people’s lives,”
local Tbilisi resident Nodar tells us, as we stroll into Fabrika,
a former sewing factory that’s been transformed into an urban
hub for food, art, and fashion. “It’s injected a bit of colour into
this part of town.” He’s not wrong. Emblazoned with giant wall
murals and endless streams of bunting, its central courtyard
features numerous cafes and bars, as well as artists’ studios,
a record store and a barber shop. Swing into Moulin Electrique
for a cappuccino and crepes, enjoyed alfresco beneath a
giant glittering disco ball.
“THERE’S A HOST
OF YOUNG CHEFS
FORGING ARETELLING OF
GEORGIAN CULINARYTRADITIONS.”
CLOCKWISE: Fabrika,
Tbilisi’s hub of art, food
and fashion; Lolita’s cool
interior; the gallery wall at
Salobie Bia; and a sample
of a regional dish (inset).GLOBAL FLAVOURS.