Autumn menu at the "Mindal" café | Рестораны Раппопорта

Autumn menu at the "Mindal" caféEach dish tells a little story about the region: a soup prepared only in Azerbaijan, a roast tucked beneath a crust that resembles a wooden roof, and fish blanketed in almonds.Autumn in the East — is about new life, about the harvest . It is the season when pomegranates reveal their tart sweetness, quinces turn golden in the sun, and food is cooked over hot coals to welcome the long winter — a winter one should enter well-fed and warm. This is the idea behind the new seasonal menu at Alexander Rappoport’s Mindal café : the warmth of the hearth meets the cool freshness of herbs, while traditional recipes from southern Azerbaijan and Persia are given a contemporary interpretation. Each dish tells a small story of the region: a soup prepared only in Azerbaijan, a roast sealed beneath a pastry crust resembling a wooden roof, and fish covered with almonds. Chef Fuad Aliyev does not seek to surprise guests with exotic ingredients — instead, he shows what tradition can become when treated with care and attention. Grilled Chicken Salad with Peanut Sauce (RUB 960) — charcoal-grilled chicken with fresh vegetables and herbs, dressed with tkemali and peanut sauces and garnished with rose petals and pomegranate seeds. Feta Salad with Tomatoes, Pistachios and Tarragon Sauce (RUB 890) — feta with ripe tomatoes, sprinkled with ground pistachios and dressed with tarragon pesto — a fresh combination with a distinctive anise note. Crispy Eggplant Salad with Stracciatella (RUB 1,050) — crispy breaded eggplant with delicate stracciatella and tomatoes, finished with fresh herbs and sweet chilli sauce. Surfullu Soup (RUB 800) — a traditional southern Azerbaijani bean soup with beef and dough dumplings. Served in a clay pot with cilantro, dried mint and red onion seasoned with sumac. Lamb Takhta Govurma with Sour Cherries (RUB 1,460) — lamb with bell peppers, tomatoes, chestnuts and sour cherries, baked in a cast-iron pan beneath a sesame-crusted pastry lid. The name translates as “wooden roast” — the baked pastry crust truly resembles a wooden surface. Almond-Crusted Baked Halibut with Walnut and Orange Sauce (RUB 2,300) — halibut fillet in an almond crust, ba…