DINING AROUND TOWN
LUSIN Authentically Armenian.
Lusin has, since 2011, served culture and history on a spoon. The first and most favored dining address for authentic Armenian cuisine, Lusin is a marvelous feat of oriental culinary excellence. The journey begins the moment your eyes fall upon the restaurant’s front façade and its interiors. Made entirely from naturally rose tinted Tufo, a type of volcanic stone unique to Armenian architecture, the walls envelope you with a sense of warmth. Brought in directly from its mother country, the stones are given a further touch of history with delicate engravings of Armenian poetry. In developing an authentic yet refined collection of Armenian classics, Lusin partnered with renowned Chef Anahid Doniguian. Regionally and internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in Middle Eastern cuisine, the New York trained chef penned over 13 award winning cookbooks. Being of Armenian descent herself, Chef Anahid went to revive traditional recipes with a sophisticated Lusin twist.
The Lusin Salad
58 DESTINATION RIYADH OCTOBER 2015
Armenian cuisine is far more complex than meat skewers and lamb chops. As Lusin reintroduces the culture, they offer what is called the Lusin Salad—an in house creation consisting of eggplant with cheese and pesto sauce.
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For those seeking a truly traditional vegetarian treat, one cannot go wrong with the Armenian Itch— bulgur, cracked wheat salad dressed with tomato sauce and parsley. This is a household staple in Armenia served as an afternoon palate cleanser for children coming home from school and as the family waits for grandma or mother to serve dinner. We were pleasantly delighted to learn from Chef Kasem that the stone oven installed in the kitchen served an integral purpose their culinary creations. One might notice that the Lusin dishes have a subtle smoky aroma and flavor, which apparently comes from the wood burn within the oven.