7-ton pilaf cooked in Samarkand, but Yulduz Usmonova voices criticism (video)

From August 1 to 3, the first international "Samarkand pilaf" festival was held in the Samarkand region, during which tons of pilaf were prepared. The event was reported by the regional administration's press service.

On the opening day, a competition featuring the most skilled chefs from across Uzbekistan was organized. The second day featured international chefs from Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Qatar, Kuwait, Japan, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Indonesia, China, India, Poland, Jordan, Egypt, South Korea, Kazakhstan, and several other countries, showcasing their culinary skills.

On the third and final day, 50 local and 5 foreign chefs collaborated to cook a 7-ton pilaf in a specially prepared giant cauldron. In the final rankings, Khorezm region took third place, Bukhara region came second, and the chefs from Tashkent city won first place.

The large-scale event attracted thousands of visitors eager to taste the dish, resulting in traffic congestion in and around the city. Popular singer Yulduz Usmonova, who was in Samarkand at the time, criticized the event’s planning, saying she was stuck in traffic for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

“Why don’t you fix the road first, and only then cook in tons?” she said. “What is the fault of someone simply trying to drive? Are such measures really necessary? Think about the roads first.”

It is worth noting that earlier, a brawl broke out among attendees at the “Mangal Fest” barbecue festival on Taras Shevchenko Street in the Mirabad district of Tashkent.