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At the crossroads of southeastern Europe and southwest Asia lies a dazzling country called Azerbaijan. Be it its rich cultural heritage, natural wonders or culinary scenes, everything about this place is extraordinary. Bordered by the Caspian Sea on one side and the Caucasus Mountains on the other, this unspoiled country boasts of diverse landscapes. No matter which way you turn, its stunning natural beauty will leave one intrigued. Today, we are here not to describe Azerbaijan’s geographical diversity but to explore the unique gastronomic treats this country has to offer. Read on to know what makes Azerbaijan food so finger liking good.  A Little About Azerbaijan Food Night views of the amazing Azerbaijan. The food of Azerbaijan has an influence of Turkish, Iranian, Persian, and Central Asian cuisine. The use of fresh herbs and saffron, also called "red gold" is what makes the food very flavorful. Each dish here is different; it comprises a lot of fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. Bread and rice always forms the foundation of most of the signature dishes. Azerbaijan's cuisine uses simple ingredients in their cooking, however the results are a treat to the taste buds.  Discover Azerbaijan in 4 Days 3 Nights Must Try Azerbaijan Food If you are in Azerbaijan and don’t know where to start from, this Azerbaijan food guide will help you understand the local and traditional dishes better. Our list below has a mix of all, just sit back and enjoy this culinary journey to its fullest.  Plov - National Dish National dish of Azerbaijan. Plov, the most famous Azerbaijan food, is a rice dish that resembles the Indian pulao. It is generally served with rich curry-like dishes made of meat. The long-grained rice is stuffed into a flaky lavash with dry fruits, chestnuts, and caramelized onions. The sweet-and-sour combination of flavors makes it a perfect treat. Make sure to taste this staple food before leaving Azerbaijan. Qutab – Stuffed Pancake A savory pancake which is the favorite among all. Qutub is a savory pancake stuffed with a variety of fillings such as minced meat, fresh greens, herbs and cheese. A thick dough made of flour, water and eggs are rolled out into a thin circular layer and filled with various stuffings. It's then folded and spread out into a crescent shape. After attaining the desired shape, it is then either fried or baked until crispy. Qutub is so popular that you can find it in every nook and corner of Azerbaijan. It is a must have Azerbaijan street food.  Dolma - Traditional Food Best option for a perfect starter. Dolma is an Azerbaijan traditional food that makes for a perfect starter. Meat, rice, onions and vegetables blended with spices are wrapped in grape leaves and served with an authentic Azeri dip. This dip is made with simple ingredients like yogurt and garlic. The Azerbaijan Dolma comes in different shapes and sizes. The cooking technique of Dolma is so unique that it has been added to the UNESCO representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Shashlyk - Kebabs And Grills Replica of our own kebabs and grills. In simple words, Azerbaijani’s shashlyk is the replica of our own kebabs and grills. Meat used in the preparation are lamb, beef and chicken. The meat is marinated with a mixture of spices, herbs and yogurt. The marinated meat is then skewed and barbecued over open flames until it achieves a rich aroma and incredible tenderness. The smoky, charred taste from the heat of the coal is what gives shashlyk an edge from the other dishes. It's best had with flatbread, grilled vegetables and fresh salads. Piti - Brothy Soup Rich and heavy soup to beat the harsh winters. Piti is a slow-cooked brothy soup made of lamb, chickpeas, potatoes, onions, and aromatic herbs. Unlike other soups, the piti is cooked in small portions in clay pots on special wall stoves. The soup is so rich and heavy that it can be served as a complete meal on its own but many prefer to have it as a side dish. Sipping the piping hot flavorful piti is quite comforting and satisfying in the cold winters. It tastes best when served with a dollop of sour cream and fresh herbs. Baklava - Beloved Dessert Beloved dessert of the Middle East. The classic baklava is a beloved dessert of the Middle East since it is a symbol of celebrations. There are many variations to the Baklava, however the Baklava made in Azerbaijan during festive occasions and religious holidays makes it a paradise for sweet lovers. Preparation of Baklava is an art, layers of dough is topped with chopped nuts and honey. The crunchy and flaky texture offers both sweetness and crunch to the dessert. No trip to Azerbaijani is complete without tasting this beloved dessert. Tea - A Cultural Tradition Black tea served in traditional pear-shaped glasses. Tea in Azerbaijan is not just a drink, it is a symbol of the country’s hospitality and social culture. Generally black tea is served in traditional pear-shaped glasses (armudu) with jams, fruits and slices of lemon. From cinnamon to cardamom leaves, from pieces of lemon to ginger, there are many flavors to choose from. The tea here plays a very important role in the matchmaking process too. When the groom’s family visits the bride, if sweet tea is served, it is a yes, and if unsweetened tea is served, it is a no.  Suggest Reads: Azerbaijan- Interesting Things To Do And Places To See The best way to understand a country is through its food. The same goes with this fascinating nation too. Azerbaijani food represents the country's rich cultural heritage and traditions. Azerbaijan is developing into a top tourism destination and it is not wrong to say that its unique cuisine is one of the main reasons. The delightful mix of the east and the west is sure to salivate your taste buds. Do let us know of your views in the comments below. FAQs What do they eat for breakfast in Azerbaijan? A typical Azerbaijani breakfast is generally light with fresh and simple ingredients. A typical Azerbaijani breakfast includes items like tandir bread, cheese, butter, fresh herbs, eggs, honey, sausages, jams and black tea. How expensive is food in Azerbaijan? The cost of food in Baku Azerbaijan is generally quite affordable. Meal at a mid-range restaurant can cost anywhere between $8-15 USD per person. Food from street and local cafes can be as cheap as $3-6 USD. Groceries are also reasonably priced. A loaf of bread will cost about $0.30 USD and a pound of meat around $5-7 USD. What language is spoken in Azerbaijan? The official language of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani. It is a Turkic language from the Oghuz sub-branch. As per records, it was originally referred to as "Turkic" but in the 1930s, its name was officially changed to "Azerbaijani". What is famous food in Azerbaijan? Plov is the most famous Azerbaijan Food. It is so popular that Plov has been named the national dish of the country.

Washington, D.C. (January, 2025) — From family-friendly slopes nestled amid picturesque villages, to resorts perched on some of the world’s highest mountains, the USA offers a wonderful variety of destinations for skiing and snowboarding — along with stunning landscapes, warm hospitality and fun apres-ski options. “Whether you’re skiing under sunny skies in the Colorado Rockies, or heading to Utah, where you can get from the airport to the slopes in an hour, the USA is home to some of the world’s finest skiing,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of Brand USA, the nation’s destination marketing organization. “Other iconic locales include Lake Placid, New York, which twice hosted the Winter Olympics; charming New England ski towns like Stowe, Vermont, and unique destinations like Taos, New Mexico, known for challenging terrain and an artsy, multicultural community.” You can ski in 37 of the USA’s 50 states. Smaller, under-the-radar ski areas like Boone, North Carolina, or Canaan Valley, West Virginia, are typically more affordable, family friendly and perfect for introducing kids and first-timers to snow sports — from downhill (Alpine) skiing and snowboarding to cross-country (Nordic) skiing, snowshoeing, snow-tubing, ice skating and snowmobiling. For skiers who prefer to have the slopes to themselves, the USA has three resorts where snowboarding is not allowed: Vermont’s Mad River Glen and Utah’s Alta and Deer Valley. All ready to so skiing and snowboarding down the slope. Skiing Lessons And Private Guides Most U.S. resorts offer lessons for all ages and skill levels, starting with “bunny hills” for kids and other beginners. Lessons can start at age 3 or 4, but many resorts also offer childcare and “snow play” for their youngest guests. Some places, like Telluride in Colorado, can arrange for multilingual instructors. Others, including Park City in Utah, offer adaptive skiing for guests with disabilities. Advanced skiers who are up for a challenge might consider hiring a guide for backcountry adventures or even heli-skiing (where helicopters transport you to a mountaintop) in places like Alaska’s Chugach Mountains, home to the Alyeska Resort. Springtime Skiing Skiing in the USA is not just a wintertime activity: Many resorts stay open until mid- to late April. Springtime visitors can expect uncrowded slopes, shorter wait times, lower prices, milder temperatures and more daylight. Some resorts end the season in April with festivals, parties and other fun events. One late spring tradition is “pond-skimming,” where costumed skiers race down a slope, then try to glide across a pond without falling in. Accommodations And Apres-Ski Accommodations run the gamut from hostels charging as little as $32 a night to five-star luxury hotels like The Little Nell in Aspen, Colorado. In between you’ll find a range of hotels, charming country inns, Airbnbs and other condo, home and apartment rentals, along with chalets and ski in/ski out options. Many lodges have cozy fireplaces where you can curl up in a comfy chair after a long day outdoors and relax with a cup of hot chocolate or chili, a favorite wintertime stew. But if you’re up for more fun, apres-ski and off-slope offerings in many destinations include spas, shopping and dining, dance clubs, bars and live music, horse-drawn sleigh rides and dog-sledding. For gaming, consider the Heavenly resort on the California-Nevada border, located near casinos in South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, Nevada. Male snowboarder caught in mid-air on Appalachian Ski Mountain. Ski lodge in background at the bottom of frame. Bright blue sky behind snowborder wearing black outfit. Passes The Epic and Ikon passes offer significant discounts for multi-day lift tickets, lessons, lodging and food at dozens of resorts around the USA (as well as in other countries). Cross-Country Skiing You don’t need a mountain to go cross-country skiing. You just need snow. Cross-country (also known as Nordic) skiing is a great alternative for folks who want an energetic outdoor activity without the thrills of downhill skiing. (It’s usually more affordable, too.) Many mountain regions known for downhill skiing have nearby cross-country trails, such as Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, Montana; Tamarack in Mammoth Lakes, California; Bretton Woods in New Hampshire; and Aspen Snowmass in Colorado. Snowshoeing is another low-impact way to experience the serene magic of traversing a valley or forest blanketed with sparkling snow.  You can also cross-country ski in a number of national parks, including Glacier National Park in Montana, Yosemite National Park in California, and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana. Regional Guide To Skiing In The USA Here are some details on skiing in the USA by region. Note that snow and ski conditions can vary tremendously due to the weather; check before booking. CA_Lake Tahoe VA_0823_Skiers at Heavenly Mountain Colorado And Utah Colorado is the USA’s best-known ski destination, renowned for perfect, powdery snow, hundreds of miles of varied terrain, lots of sunshine and clear blue skies. It’s home to more than two dozen ski resorts, including four of the world’s highest: Breckenridge, Loveland, Telluride and Aspen, all above 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) in the Rocky Mountains. Many resorts have shuttle service from the Denver airport. You can also fly direct from various U.S. cities to regional Colorado airports. For example, fly into Eagle if you’re heading to Vail Mountain, or fly into Hayden/Yampa Valley for Steamboat Springs. An Amtrak train runs from Denver to Winter Park Resort through March 31.  Utah has 15 ski resorts, 10 of which are within an hour’s drive of the Salt Lake City airport, where you can rent a car or take a bus or shuttle to the slopes. You could even stay in downtown Salt Lake City and head to a different resort each day. Among them: Park City, the USA’s largest ski resort and host to the 2002 Winter Olympics, and Sundance, the rustic resort founded by actor Robert Redford, where the Sundance Film Festival is held each January. Utah has trademarked the slogan “The Greatest Snow on Earth” to describe its light, fluffy snow. Ski Resorts_Brighton_ Jay_Dash_Photography_IMG_5537 Elsewhere In The West Outside Colorado and Utah, a dozen resorts in other Western states routinely rank among the USA’s best ski destinations. They include Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Schweitzer and Sun Valley in Idaho; Big Sky and Whitefish Mountain in Montana; Angel Fire and Taos in New Mexico; Mammoth and Palisades Tahoe in California; and Heavenly on the California-Nevada border. And don’t forget the Arizona Snowbowl, a three-hour drive from the Phoenix airport, and Mount Bachelor in Oregon. Many of these Western destinations — like Sun Valley and Whitefish — are known for authentic local vibes and a friendly, laid-back ambience. Others, like Taos and Jackson Hole, are beloved by expert skiers for challenging terrain. Mammoth and Big Sky are among those that get high marks for the apres-ski and party scene, while family-friendly destinations include Mount Bachelor and Angel Fire. The Northeast Skiing in New England isn’t just about getting down a mountain. It’s also about cozy lodges, picturesque towns, historic covered bridges and red barns by the side of the road. Off the slopes, see how maple syrup is made; learn to play cribbage, a traditional card-and-board game, or hire a guide to go ice-fishing on a frozen pond. Vermont is the Northeast’s premier ski destination, with 25 resorts including Killington, Stowe, Sugarbush, Okemo and Stratton. Many resorts are a three- to four-hour drive from Boston, or fly nonstop to Burlington, Vermont, from more than a dozen U.S. cities. There’s also bus, shuttle and Amtrak train service from New York and Boston. Off the slopes, check out the famed Vermont Country Store, the charming village of Woodstock, and the Trapp Family Lodge, whose family history inspired the classic film “The Sound of Music.” New Hampshire is home to 18 downhill ski areas, including Cannon Mountain Ski Area, where Olympic gold medalist Bode Miller grew up, and historic Bretton Woods, the state’s largest resort with 63 trails. In Maine, fly into Portland and head to Saddleback or Sunday River. Maine’s beloved Sugarloaf, the largest ski area east of the Rocky Mountains, is the only place in the region to offer above-tree line skiing. En route to the slopes, go shopping in Freeport, Maine, home to the legendary L.L. Bean outfitter and dozens of outlet stores for major brands. New York State has more than 50 ski areas. They range from Hunter Mountain and Belleayre Mountain, about a three-hour drive from New York City and perfect for families and beginners, to Whiteface Mountain, known for a 3,430-foot (1,045-meter) vertical drop and challenging terrain, including Black Diamond and Double Black Diamond trails. Nearby Whiteface, you can experience Olympic history in the picturesque village of Lake Placid, which hosted the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games. PA_Explore York_1024_roundtop-mountain-firepit_Web72DPI Mid-Atlantic, Southeast And Midwest You’ll find plenty of smaller resorts in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast region, most within a day’s drive of New York or Washington, D.C. They include Blue Mountain, Camelback and Seven Springs in Pennsylvania; Canaan Valley, Snowshoe and Timberline in West Virginia; and Wintergreen and Massanutten in Virginia. The town of Boone, located in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, is a jumping-off point for several popular ski areas, including Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain and Appalachian Ski Mountain. In the Midwest, consider Mount Bohemia in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a favorite for backcountry skiing and other adventures; Wisconsin’s biggest and highest resort, Granite Peak;  and Lutsen Mountains in Northeast Minnesota, with four interconnected peaks overlooking Lake Superior. An adult male adaptive athlete rides down a snowy mountain using a sit-ski and handheld outriggers as his instructor stands in background and watches. About Brand USA Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, was established by the Travel Promotion Act as the nation’s first public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to communicate U.S. travel policies and procedures to worldwide travelers. The organization’s mission is to increase international visitation to the United States in order to fuel the U.S. economy and enhance the image of the United States worldwide. Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion in 2010, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA. According to studies by Oxford Economics, over the past 11 years, Brand USA's marketing efforts have generated 8.7 million incremental visitors, nearly $28.8 billion in incremental spend, more than 36,800 incremental jobs supported each year, $8.3 billion in federal, state, and local taxes, and early $63 billion in total economic impact.For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit TheBrandUSA.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter. To discover more about the USA and the boundless diversity of American travel experiences and authentic, rich culture, please visit Brand USA's consumer website VisitTheUSA.com; follow Visit The USA on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram; and watch travel shows on GoUSATV. Media Contacts: Sunil Puri                                  Arpita Sinha spuri@thebrandusa.in           asinha@thebrandusa.in