Of Armenian food and airlines

The main food service is from the huge buffet in the main hall, where about 800 folding tables are set up for your consumptive pleasure.  Pictured above is a spread of Armenian vegetarian culinary joy, from top left clockwise: su-boreg (cheesy deliciousness), stuffed pepper, spinach boreg, salad and dolmas.  Disappointingly, this year there was no Armenian wine to hand; the glass pictured was an Italian wine.

Plenty of options for non-vegetarians too.  That's a trio of skewers, including ground lamb, lamb pieces, and beef cubes, all of which were marinated and spiced.  But the best meat item was the round ball kofta, a thin bulgar shell covering juicy spiced ground meat.  The kofta sold out by 7pm Saturday.

After that, we needed a break.  So we watched the performance segment for the evening.

Look!  It's the Armenian Stewardess Dance Troupe!

Emergency exits are located on either side of the airplane ...

Having taken a break, we were ready for our next course: Armenian sandwiches, prepared by the staff of the 22nd & Irving Market.  Amazingly tasty, if a bit too messy to take in the car.

Having had a bit of Arak, I needed some Armenian coffee before I was ready to drive.  This is identical to Greek coffee or Turkish coffee, but don't tell the Armenians that.  On the up side, they not only served it in real china, but they also had a fortune-teller on hand to ready your future in the coffee grounds.  Now that's service!

And, of course, dessert.  Pictured above ar the usual baklava variantions, as well as traditional almond and apricot cakes.  Out of frame is the best dessert, Armenian apple pastry.  Buy enough to take home.

So that was Armenia in San Francisco last weekend.  Make sure not to miss it next year ... it'll be sometime in September.

Buh-bye now!  And thanks for flying Armenian Airlines!

(My apologies to the dance troupe, who had obviously practiced a lot.  But those costumes ... )