Armenians' lahmadjo restaurants cause culinary stir in Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net - The opening of two Armenian restaurants in Russia has caused a stir in Turkey over a perceived drive to brand lahmadjo - known as lahmacun in Turkey - as an Armenian national dish, Al-Monitor reports.

Lahmadjo is a thin circular piece of dough topped with minced meat or lamb, tomatoes, parsley and spices which is then baked.

The restaurant openings - reported in a Turkish newspaper earlier this month - have caused outrage in Turkey, leading to a spate of media coverage and even television shows explaining "why the dish is Turkish and not Armenian."

Armenia is not the only country Turkey has been at odds with over food. Culinary spats born of deep historical tensions - including wars and forced movement of people - have led to ‘trademark wars’ with both Cyprus and Greece over halloumi, olives and baklava too.