30th Anniversary of the Bristol Tbilisi Association

The first big event celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the twinning with Bristol and Tbilisi, Georgia, was attended by more than 130 people.  The event, a Georgian Supra, was more than a feast of local Georgian cuisine, it was also a cultural evening that was complete with toasts, wine and accapello singing by the Bristol Georgian Choir.  True to tradition, the Supra was hosted by a Tamada, a Georgian Master of Ceremony.  His job was to invite the dignitaries and others to deliver a brief speech, followed by a toast.  Dr. Razvan Constantinescu was the evening’s Tamada and is the Honorary Consul General of Romania in Bristol.  The first toast of the evening was made by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County and City of Bristol, Mrs Peaches Golding OBE.  She was followed by toasts from Her Excellency the Georgian Ambassador to the UK, Mrs Tamar Beruchashvili, and The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Bristol Cllr Lesley Alexander.  A further nine toasts followed, punctuated by songs sung by the Bristol Georgian Choir.  The colourful menu included vegetables cooked with walnuts, cold meats, meats cooked in various tasty sauces and salads.   Thanks for these wonderful dishes are due to to Bristol Tbilisi Association (BTA) executive committee members Esther Keller-Pickup and Nina Bendukidze.  Georgian white and red wine was donated by BTA chairman Derek Pickup.