Join Phil Rosenthal in Season 8, Episode 4 of Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil. He explores the warmth, flavors, and traditions of Tbilisi, Georgia.
🌍 Where Are We This Time?
Welcome to Tbilisi, the charming and chaotic capital of Georgia. Nestled in the Caucasus, this city is an ancient blend of East and West, where Orthodox cathedrals neighbor Persian-style bathhouses, and where the food tells a story of survival, celebration, and centuries-old fusion.
Phil finds himself enchanted by Georgia’s warmth — both its people and its khachapuri. At Littera, Chef Tekuna shares a beloved Georgian proverb that captures the spirit of the country: “A guest is a gift from God.” That sentiment isn’t just spoken — it’s baked into every meal.
🍽️ What Phil Ate
Tbilisi’s culinary charm lies in its hearty, herb-packed comfort food and ancient wine traditions. In this episode, Phil savors some of Georgia’s most iconic dishes:
- Chakapuli
A fragrant Georgian stew made with lamb, tarragon, green plums, and white wine — tangy, herbal, and deeply warming. A Georgian traditional dish cooked outdoors by Chef Guram. - Khachapuri
The beloved Georgian cheese bread, especially the Adjarian style shaped like a boat and filled with molten cheese, egg, and butter. A Georgian traditional dish. - Georgian Amber Wine
Naturally fermented in clay qvevri vessels, this orange-hued wine is earthy, bold, and thousands of years in the making.
📍 Where: Teliani Valley Winery - Khinkali
Soup-filled dumplings eaten by hand, traditionally stuffed with spiced meat or cheese. A staple of Georgian comfort food.
📍 Where: Klike’s Khinkali
📍 Phil’s Stops
Listed in order of appearance:
- Gulo Bath – A historic sulfur bathhouse in the Abanotubani district, where Phil experienced a traditional Georgian spa treatment.
- Tamtaki – A cozy street-food shop where Phil enjoyed freshly baked bread pockets filled with seasonal vegetables.
- The Cone Culture – Creative waffle cone ice cream stand where Phil tried strawberry jam with waffle crunch.
- Kakheti Wine Valley – Teliani Valley Winery – Phil enjoys qvevri wines in a candlelit cellar, savoring Georgia’s 8,000-year-old winemaking heritage.
- Superhero – A children’s charity that supports young people in Georgia through food, creativity, and compassion.
- Bridge of Peace – A striking modern pedestrian bridge that connects east and west, past and future.
- Littera – Modern Georgian cuisine in a beautiful courtyard setting, led by chef Tekuna Gachechiladze.
- Klike’s Khinkali – A no-frills spot specializing in juicy Georgian soup dumplings.
- Ezo – A hidden courtyard restaurant where Phil enjoyed a traditional Georgian supra feast.
📌 Explore Phil’s Tbilisi Stops on Google My Maps
🛍️ Taste Georgia at Home
Explore traditional recipes and stories that bring Georgia’s hospitality and bold flavors to life. This beautiful cookbook is a perfect companion for fans of the episode.
“A love letter to Georgian cuisine — rich, rustic, and unforgettable.”
💬 Final Thoughts
My own introduction to Georgian culture wasn’t through a grand feast, but a quiet moment at a Georgian bakery tucked away in London. I still remember how their version of a croissant—flaky, buttery, unexpectedly rich—caught me completely off guard. That taste lingered.
Later, in California, I dined at a Georgian restaurant and experienced something even more surprising: after a wonderful meal, the owner refused a tip, smiling as she explained that in Georgia, tipping wasn’t part of the custom. Perhaps it ties back to that beautiful Georgian belief: “A guest is a gift from God.” In the U.S., where tax and tip often pile on, it felt like a small but profound shift—like hospitality didn’t need to be bought, only shared.
Watching this episode, I began to see why Georgian food carries both Eastern spice and Western richness. It’s not just geography—it’s history. A land shaped by conquest and renewal, yet always finding its way back to the table.
This is the birthplace of wine, a tradition so deep it’s now protected by UNESCO. But what stayed with me most wasn’t the wine, or even the food—it was the feeling. Georgia doesn’t just welcome you. It embraces you.
“Madloba” — that’s “thank you” in Georgian. And truly, thank you, Georgia.
🧭 Explore All of Phil’s Food Adventures in Season 8
📍 Episode 1 – Amsterdam
📍 Episode 2 – Basque Country in Spain
📍 Episode 3 – Boston
📍 Episode 4 – Tbilisi (You’re reading it!)
📍 Episode 5 – Sydney & Adelaide
📍 Episode 6 – Las Vegas
📍 Episode 7 – Manila
📍 Episode 8 – Guatemala
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