Acclaimed American chefs Tim Byres and Ian Beach visited the Kyrgyz Republic September 9 – 15 to share experiences with Kyrgyz chefs, restaurateurs, students, and food aficionados.
Byres and Beach specialize in American barbeque, and were excited to have an opportunity to visit a country where meat plays such central role in the traditional cuisine. They shared culinary secrets and recipes and with leading chefs from Kyrgyz restaurants and with students of local culinary colleges.
During their visit, they also visited local bazaars, sampled traditional Kyrgyz dishes, participated in local TV cooking shows, and conducted master classes with Kyrgyz chefs and students. Their visit culminated in a Shashlyk-BBQ Food Festival on September 14, where everyone had a chance to see the chefs in action in a celebration of food, hospitality, and community.