Azerbaijani food combines Turkish and central Asian elements. Baku has an excellent selection of Western style restaurants. In the
chaikhanas (tea houses), men linger for hours drinking sweet black tea out of tiny glasses and playing
nard (backgammon). A special place in the cuisine belongs to lamb kebabs of which there are many different varieties. Salads are served together with main course.
Things to know: Although the majority of Azeris are nominally Shia Muslims, alcohol is widely available.
National specialties:• Lyulya kebab (spiced, minced
lamb pressed onto skewers).
• Dograma (a milky potato, cucumber and onion soup served cold).
• Piti is (a mutton and chickpea soup).
• Kutab (pancakes stuffed with spinach, herbs or pumpkin).
• Badimjan Dolmasi (mutton served with aubergine, tomatoes, basil and sour cream).
National drinks: • Wines and brandies are produced locally.
• Sherbets are popular soft drinks made of sugar, lemon, saffron, seeds of mint and basilt.
• Tea served accompanied by various jams such as quince, fig, apricot, white cherry and plum. Sometimes dried leaves or flowers of savory, clove, cardamom and other spices are added to tea.
• Tea with
darchin (cinnamon), ginger and, occasionally, rosewater.
Legal drinking age: No minimum age.
Tipping: Expected by waiters in most restaurants. 10% is fine.
NightlifeSeveral restaurants,
late-night bars and nightclubs have opened in
Baku in the last few years, catering largely for the foreign business community and wealthy local business people
. Concerts,
theater,
opera and
ballet in Baku are cheap, good value for money and very popular. Most Azeris prefer to spend the evenings sitting on their doorsteps chatting to friends and neighbors.
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