Real Food

“I’ll be happy to be home and get some real food,” the American woman says. She and her three friends are waiting for a flight to Paris, as am I. From what I’ve overheard from their lively conversation I gather they’ve been on a vacation here in Armenia, have done the tourist thing, and are now on their way back to the US full of memories and stories. They’re a happy-looking tribe and apparently have had a good time. Except for the eating part, it seems.

No real food in Armenia? (No, this is not me)

Real food? I’m thinking. They’ve suffered from a lack of real food here? This is Armenia, not the land of processed much. The markets in the summer overflow with fruits plucked fresh from the trees and most meat is carved fresh from various animal carcasses. Wonderful bread of all kinds is available everywhere, fresh all day long. No real food?

“Well,” Miss Real Food says, catching herself, “I mean, you know, the food is good, but it’s all so fat! That barbecued meat is so fatty!”

Khorovats: Armenian Barbecue

I’ll give her that. The Armenians aren’t much into fat trimming, and fatty meat does well on the barbecue. Khorovats, or barbecue, is an Armenian national specialty and it’s delicious. It’s what’s done for parties and picnics. You can also buy it by the roadside, or from many barbecue shops in town for lunch or take it home for dinner if you don’t feel like cooking.

Lavash, Armenian flat bread. Not a preservative in sight.

I’m wondering what the woman means with real food, and I am rather surprised to hear her complaint. All four mamas are of generous proportion and possibly (I’m guessing here) not strangers to fat and sugar-laden American processed food, which, last I heard, is not real food. Just check the labels.

I’m shamelessly eavesdropping

The women commiserate lengthily, yes, they’d like to go back to their American diet. “What I really crave,” one of them says, “is-”

To my utter disappointment, whatever IT is gets swallowed up in a crackling Armenian flight announcement, so it is lost to me. I would have loved to know, because I’m wicked curious. What could she be craving? Chili cheese fries? Corn dogs? Pop tarts? Pork belly sliders?

Wait . . .

Miss Real Food says she’s going to get some coffee. Her friends decline her offer to bring some back for them, and she wanders off to the coffee shop. She returns some time later, carrying a cup of java and a paper plate with an American-style doughnut on it, sticky white with powdered sugar.

“Look what I found!” she sings, and bites into it with relish. Her baby blue eyes widen with delight as she chews.

“This is so good!” she jubilates.

I guess she found herself some real food.

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Photo of lady in red:  © Alexxxey | Dreamstime.com 

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What pearls of wisdom have you overheard in airports or other public places? I know there are some gems out there, so please hit that comment button and entertain me.

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