Aspiring entrepreneurs intend to promote tourism through cuisine.
Kyrgyz cuisine is rich and diverse. There is probably no one who would remain indifferent to culinary masterpieces such as manti, kuurdak, or boorsoks. However, there is a special dish in our country that is the brand of an entire city - ashlymfu. It is well known that the tastiest tandoor samsas are in Osh, and the best ashlymfu is in Karakol. Moreover, this dish is not only a delicacy but also a true panacea for lovers of lively feasts and stronger drinks. So, no fast food, gentlemen!
Welcome to "Ashlymfu City"!
Last week, a large-scale project called StartUp Weekend was launched in Kyrgyzstan to help young entrepreneurs promote their businesses. At the final presentation in Karakol, the team of Tynchtykbek Janadyly uulu won. The guys are launching a unified platform for selling ashlymfu in the city. The author of the idea told "Komsomolskaya Pravda" about what motivated him to build his business and how he plans to enhance the tourist potential of his hometown with just one dish.
- Tynchtykbek, tell us about your project?
- The business project "Ashlymfu City" involves creating a unified platform for ashlymfu sellers. This dish is sold everywhere in Karakol: in cafes, at markets, and simply on the streets. When someone asks me where to eat excellent ashlymfu in Karakol, I don't have a definitive answer. Because the food in cafes is not always well-prepared, and at the markets, it is tasty but served in unsanitary conditions.
We conducted a small survey, asking both sellers and their customers: is there anything that should be changed in this area? It turned out that 90 percent of respondents want the service to improve. Everyone wants to enjoy ashlymfu in cozy, warm, and clean establishments. This is exactly what our project is focused on.
- What is its essence?
- We offer entrepreneurs a space equipped with everything necessary: plumbing, sewage, designer furniture, and Wi-Fi. At the same time, sellers will not pay rent for the premises; they will receive the same 25 soms per serving as before. Business owners will only make a markup of 5-10 soms per serving. We also plan to hold various festivals, such as the summer and winter Ashlymfu Fest.
This will be a fair of ashlymfu attracting the maximum number of sellers in one place, where contests for fast eating of the dish and for eating the spiciest ashlymfu will be held. Our sellers will study English to communicate with tourists. To motivate them to learn the language, we will award cash prizes monthly.
There will also be prizes for those who sell the most servings in a month, and we will encourage the most polite employees. In "Ashlymfu City," souvenirs will also be sold: fridge magnets, T-shirts with images of ashlymfu and the inscription "I Love Karakol."
- Why did you choose this dish? After all, it is not a national Kyrgyz food.
- Ashlymfu is a unique dish. We should thank the Dungans for this wonderful recipe. For some, ashlymfu is a snack; for others, it is a full meal. It is served cold and is therefore very portable. The price is also pleasantly surprising. For example, students in Karakol can have lunch for 40 soms. It is loved by both adults and children, as well as ordinary workers and bankers.
- How can this project help develop tourism in the region?
- Ashlymfu is the calling card of Karakol. We want to turn this dish into a tourist attraction for our city, which is actively reviving thanks to tourism. I believe we can contribute to the development of tourism in our country by providing quality services. Everything starts small. By the way, StartUp Weekend is a springboard for beginners and creative individuals.
The implementation of the "Ashlymfu City" project became possible thanks to the international movement StartUp Weekend. This event took place in Karakol on April 11. The team that presented the most promising business idea received $500 and will now compete for 500,000 soms in the final of the "Business Battle on the Ring," which will be held in the capital in May. The winners of StartUp Weekends will have the opportunity to participate in the international competition "Global Startup Battle 2015," where they will compete for $1 million!
- In Karakol, we received 60 applications for participation in StartUp Weekend, 35 presented their business ideas, and only 15 teams made it to the semifinals, - said the event organizer, founder of the business laboratory CAFMI, Mirsulzhan Namazaly. - The team of Tynchtykbek Janadyly uulu took first place, the second went to the guys who presented a business project for building the first children's attraction in the city. The team that took third place plans to launch the first leather processing plant in the Issyk-Kul region. The top three received vouchers for $500, $300, and $150 for purchasing equipment and materials for their business and an invitation to the final battle Get in the Ring in Bishkek. Our project is aimed at supporting not only individual entrepreneurs but also developing the economic potential of all of Kyrgyzstan.
Got a headache? No problem! There’s Fu Lyam Sha!
Did you have a corporate party yesterday? Or did you just meet with friends you haven't seen in a long time? Stayed up late and had a bit too much to drink? In short, you had a fun evening. And in the morning... In the morning, you are faced with the consequences of what was very good yesterday. There are many recipes for curing a hangover. But what could be better and tastier after a wild party than cold and spicy ashlymfu? It takes away the headache like magic!
Ashlymfu can confidently be called a unique dish. It requires a minimum of ingredients and has a bright and rich flavor. This dish becomes particularly relevant in spring and summer, as ashlymfu not only refreshes but also invigorates. In a word, ashlymfu is a hit of the hot season.
A joke on the topic
- Dad, dad - where is the little airplane flying?
- Probably for ashlymfu...
- Dad, what is the little car carrying?
- Probably ashlymfu...
- Dad, dad, why do you keep saying - ashlymfu and ashlymfu?
- Because I have a hangover, daughter!
The secret of making ashlymfu
It is commonly believed that Karakol's ashlymfu is the most delicious. It turns out that the unique flavor is given by the local water, which is softer than that of Bishkek. "Komsomolskaya Pravda" will tell you how to prepare ashlymfu at home, as close as possible to the Karakol version.
The cooking process can be conditionally divided into four points: dough, sauce, omelet, and starch. However, when it comes to the dough, housewives now prefer to buy it ready-made. You can purchase special dough at any market.
Cooking:
Starch
Heat water to a boil. Add vinegar. Add salt to taste. Dissolve starch in 3 tablespoons of cold water. Pour it in a thin stream into the boiling water, stirring vigorously. Cook for 15-20 minutes over low heat. Pour into a container greased with vegetable oil, cool, and cut into long strips. To make cutting easier, keep the jelly and knife constantly moistened with cold water.
Sauce
Cut vegetables into thin, long strips (the thinner, the better!). In heated oil, add carrots, sweet peppers, jussai (or wild garlic), and tomatoes one by one. Fry for a minute. Then pour in water and simmer for 5-7 minutes. Finally, add beaten eggs and vinegar.
Omelet
Beat eggs with milk and salt. Pour the mixture into a heated pan greased with oil. Fry for 5-7 minutes. Let the pancake cool, then cut it into small strips.
