Every time Nino Kiltava held a dinner at her home in the capital, the guests left surprised and delighted with the menus that this Georgian prepared for them.
"
She always made dishes from my country
," she says proudly.
The surprise effect was guaranteed because no one had tried - or probably heard of - khachapuri and khinkali, two of the best-known dishes of this Caucasian republic located on the Black Sea coast, on the border between Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
"In Spain very little is known about Georgia (capital Tbilisi, to locate us) and I think we have many things in common: we like to go out, we are family members, we value time with friends a lot...".
From so much good criticism that he received, he launched himself to investigate the market and saw that there was a gap to set up something.
"There were no restaurants of this cuisine. I had no idea of setting up a business, but I started looking at places without further ado," he tells half in Spanish, half in English.
What he had left over was desire.
"
I have always been very cooky
".
For a few weeks, he has been combining his work at the Georgian Embassy, where he is in charge of promoting the culture of his country, with Nunuka, a charming bistro located in Chueca that
pays tribute to his mother and, above all, to his paternal grandmother
.
"That's what we called my grandmother at home."
She spent a lot of quality time with her as a child.
"She was an amazing hostess. We never knew how many people were coming over for dinner but she always had everything planned."
And it was with her that he learned to cook and appreciate homemade food made with care.
Now he prepares those recipes in his new 'home' on Libertad Street.
"
I want people to feel comfortable here as soon as they walk through the door
, that there is always a welcoming atmosphere", he explains by the window of the premises.
"My grandmother passed away when she was 14 years old but I still have her very present."
He left Georgia in 2003 and has since lived in Germany - the last eight years in Berlin - Italy, Austria and Switzerland.
"My husband is a military attache at the embassy, which is why we have traveled so much in this time."
She speaks English, Russian, German, "a little Italian" and Spanish.
"I would like to improve my level," she says with conviction.
The 'hit' of Georgian cuisine, the khachapuri.
Nunuka's letter, however, has wanted it to be in Georgian
.
"I know that they are difficult words to pronounce and to learn, but it seemed to me a way to maintain the essence".
The room and kitchen team is made up of compatriots;
in front of the kitchen is David Narimanashvili.
At the table, much to discover.
The undisputed star dish,
khachapuri
, is presented as a freshly baked flatbread stuffed with cheese and egg yolk.
It is mixed and caught by hand.
It is overshadowed in the category of 'hits' by the
khinkali
, a dough filled with minced meat and broth, which they recommend taking by hand -and carefully so that the sauce does not drip on your clothes-.
To know more
plans.
11 restaurants (some new) to be seduced by the coals
Writing: ISABEL MUÑOZ
11 restaurants (some new) to be seduced by the coals
Gastronomy.
Ten restaurants to enjoy in the 'rentrée'
Writing: AMAYA GARCIA
Ten restaurants to enjoy in the 'rentrée'
Colorful dishes come out of the kitchen -such as aubergines stuffed with walnut paste and spices in a light almond sauce, called badrijani nigvzitr-,
based on vegetables, meat and bread
, an essential staple in the diet of this country.
On the grill they prepare mtsvadi, skewers of Iberian pork, and their qababi, a beef kebab with spicy Georgian sauce, coffee sauce and fresh leaves.
Khinkali, dough filled with meat with broth.
The liquid part also holds pleasant surprises.
"
In my country we make wonderful wines
. We have a great variety of grapes and very interesting references."
The next step is to create a kind
of grocery corner
where diners will be able to buy Georgian products.
Everything in Nunuka moves to Georgia.
On the walls, they have framed pages of books that Nino used to read with his grandmother, and many of the objects hold great sentimental value.
"I wanted to replicate her house a bit."
The interior design of the premises bears the signature of the Las 2 Mercedes studio.
Farewell is sweet.
The honey cake that she made for friends with Nunuka's recipe closes the first visit, which she tastes more like, see you soon.
Conforms to The Trust Project criteria
Know more