Hello,  and welcome to my 2024 Appel Writing Project! If you don't already know who I am, my name is Abbik Ilyasov. I was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan but I have lived most of my life in Los Angeles! 

A bit about me: I’m a passionate foodie who loves trying all kinds of food! I enjoy exploring diverse cuisines and cultures from around the world. This passion, along with my curiosity to explore my cultural heritage through food, inspired this project. I’ve always been fascinated by how different cultures express themselves through their culinary traditions, as well as the commonalities and differences they share.

For my Appel Project, I traveled to countries that were part of the ancient Silk Road, exploring how their traditional dishes compare to those of Uzbekistan, my home country and a historical center of the Silk Road. My journey took me to Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and, of course, Uzbekistan. I sought to answer the question: How do the dishes of these countries resemble or differ from the Uzbek cuisine I grew up with?

Another goal of my project is to inspire others to embark on their own adventures. Many people are hesitant to take on a such a journey, especially alone, and I felt the same at first. However, traveling alone, meeting new people, and immersing myself in different cultures turned out to be a truly life-changing experience, that I will remember forever! 

Feel free to explore the site! You’ll find background information on the Silk Road, highlights of my travels, a comparison of various cuisines, and my Food Blog, where I share my thoughts on the delicious dishes I encountered along the way.