Ingredient appreciation — what makes Basturma special

What sets Basturma apart is the handling of madzoon yoghurt. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the subtly tangy result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Armenia claims the world's oldest winery dating to 4100 BC and has a deep wine-making heritage. The an Armenian diaspora community event atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had Armenian cognac as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Basturma is the place to start.