You’d think, living in the cosmopolitan foodie U.S., that the chance of running across something totally new and unknown to eat would be fairly small. South Asian, East Asian, Ethiopian, Peruvian, been there, done that, check check check. But it’s a big world, and apparently a lot remains out there to be tasted. Witness last night’s supper, which consisted of Khachapuri and Tarkhun. 

Khatchapuri, since you asked, is from Georgia, in the Caucasus. It’s a pastry stuffed with cheese and various other things, kind of like an Italian calzone only lighter, almost the consistency of croissant dough. Tarkhun is also Georgian, a lemonade flavored with tarragon. It’s bright green, and I’m told the home-made version is better than the bottled one shown here. The color is startling, the taste even more so. I would compare it to celery tonic, only stronger and even more herbal. I enjoyed the first half-dozen sips, then it got a little overwhelming. Interesting, though. And filling I saved a quarter of the khachapuri for later.