From Georgia, with love: food made from the heart

At Iberia restaurant, Georgian food is served with the kind of warmth that instantly makes you feel at home. Tucked away in a quaint residential neighbourhood in Scheveningen, this cozy spot attracts both Georgian expats craving a taste of home and curious locals ready to explore something new.

My dear Georgian friend from work, Mari had been talking about taking me out for a proper Georgian meal for months. We finally made it happen at Iberia, a place she knows well. Owner Khatuna Sudjashvilli welcomed us with genuine hospitality and pride as she talked about her love for Georgian cuisine.

As I’m new to the Georgian kitchen, I let Mari take charge. She ordered a selection of her favourite dishes for us to share. I had a feeling she thought I could eat for six, and honestly, I wasn’t complaining!

Dumplings, walnuts and bread

We started with three classics, khinkali, khachapuri and pkhali.

First up: khinkali. Big, hand-twisted dumplings filled with minced meat and hot broth. They kind of reminded me of the Chinese xiao long bao soup dumplings, but heartier, with a dough that has just the right bite. The broth was soothing and full of flavour, a comforting, no-nonsense introduction to Georgian food.

There’s a special way of eating khinkali: you take a bite from the side, sip the broth, and then devour the rest. We had a lot of fun trying to do it elegantly, and me making a mess of it was part of my Georgian dining experience!

Next came khachapuri, a Georgian favourite: grilled bread topped with cheese. It was recently featured in Netflix’s Dinner Time Live with David Chang and I can see why. It’s warm, doughy and filled with soft, tangy cheese.  

Finally, a colouful plate of pkhali was served: finely chopped eggplant, spinach, beans and beetroot all mixed with a walnut sauce and shaped into little rounds.

They paired well with mchadi, the golden baked cornbread served alongside. And as if that wasn’t enough, we asked for a plate of sulguni cheese to have with the bread. Simply delicious.

Comfort food for the soul

With the weather turning colder, the first main dish felt like a warm blanket.  Chashushuli is a veal stew that’s simmered in tomato sauce and spices. Each bite of tender meat covered with the rich sauce fed my soul.

Our second main was chkmeruli, chicken baked in a thick and creamy garlic sauce. It was indulgent and moreish, absolutely the dish for anyone who loves garlic.

And ofcourse, these rich, deeply flavoured dishes needed a glass of wine to complete the meal.

Georgia, wine country

Yes, I’m devoting a paragraph on Georgian wine, because I want everyone to know how wonderful it is! We had the Georgian Royal Wine (GRW) Pirosmani, a lighter, dry red wine with subtle fruit notes. Produced in Kakheti, Georgia, and supplied by Georgian wine specialist Ponto Trade, it paired beautifully with both the veal and the garlic chicken.

Georgia is often considered the birthplace of wine, with winemaking traditions going back over 8,000 years. I learned this in the Tblisi episode of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix. And lately, Georgian wines have been popping up on more menus across Europe, finally getting the attention they deserve.

Grapes and honey take a sweet centre stage

For dessert we tried pelamushi, a jelly-like pudding made of grape juice, and a slice of honey cake. The pelamushi had a soft, springy texture and a gentle sweetness that let the grape flavour shine through.

I’m a big fan of honey, so the honey cake was a real treat for me!

In one evening, I learned a lot about Georgian food and wines. I discovered that Georgian cuisine is all about family, generosity and being together. Sharing food with friends and family is deeply rooted in Georgian culture.

Mari shared a special Georgian family dinner tradition that involves toasting to peace. I think that’s a tradition everyone should adopt!

Georgian cuisine is currently ranked at number 29 according to Taste Atlas’ 100 Best Cuisines in the World. Although the Georgian kitchen isn’t as well-known as Italian or Greek food, I believe it deserves a much higher ranking. There’s a Georgian saying: “A guest is a gift from God”. You can taste that hospitality in every dish and you feel it in the way Georgians welcome you.

So, if you’re looking for something new, comforting and made straight from the heart, I recommend you visit Iberia Restaurant. You’ll be welcomed like a long-lost family member.

Iberia Restaurant
📍Rusthoekstraat 39,
2584 CR The Hague,
Netherlands