Barbarian in the Center of Europe. An Essay on the Meeting of Civilizations, Lamb, and the Meaning of Traditions
In the very heart of Europe, surrounded by mirrors and luxurious Empire-style chandeliers, I hosted a delegation of ambassadors from Central Asia and Azerbaijan, along with their spouses. In the traditionally rich menu filled with exquisite dishes, I decided to add an element of nomadic culture — lamb, presented according to ancient customs. This meant serving the meat with the head and ritual skullcap, which was handed to the eldest guest as a symbol of respect.