Georgia

Georgian hospitality is well-known and guests are honored and respected. Friendship is highly valued, and those with many friends are seen as having character of high merit. Fulbrighters have often taken notice of the hospitable character of the Georgians. One grantee commented that his hosts "went out of their way to make [him] feel welcomed and at home." Fulbright Scholars report being invited to lectures and institution events by their university colleagues, as well as dinners and supras (Georgian feasts).

Feasts are a large part of Georgian hospitality and Georgian cuisine is as unique as its people. Traditional Georgian dishes include Badradzhani, eggplant topped with walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds; Khachapuri, the famous Georgian cheese bread; and Madame Bovari, meat, potato, tomatoes and mayonnaise baked in a cast iron dish. No matter the dish, the beans, cheeses and breads of Georgia are always renowned. Though Georgian dishes borrow from other countries, the mix of eastern and western flavors result in extraordinary original creations.