Christopher Landau Shares Enthusiasm for Uzbekistan’s Food, Culture and Markets

Former US Ambassador Christopher Landau recently visited Uzbekistan with Sergio Gor to discuss trade and investment in critical minerals and energy, as well as regional cooperation under the C5+1 framework.

Apart from business, Landau has shared his admiration for Uzbekistan’s rich hospitality culture and culinary traditions, taking to his personal X (formerly Twitter) account to post a series of enthusiastic reflections and photos.

Landau, who previously served as the US Ambassador to Mexico, described the Uzbek approach to hospitality as «like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,» praising how every guest is treated as «a dear and honoured friend» and how every meal feels like «a feast.» He shared that tables are often overflowing with nuts, fruits, meats, cheeses and multiple main courses — from soup and salad to samsa, chicken, fish, lamb, beef and the country’s national dish, plov, a fragrant rice pilaf.

Joking about the abundance of food, Landau added: «I would be morbidly obese if I lived here.» He toasted his Uzbek hosts with a cheerful «Oldik» — a traditional local expression used before starting to eat.

Reminiscing About Childhood

In another post, Landau highlighted his newfound obsession with Uzbek nuts, describing them as «amazing» for their sheer variety, including walnuts, almonds, pistachios, chestnuts, peanuts and cashews. He revealed a sentimental connection to the candied almonds, recalling how his father once brought similar treats from Spain during his childhood.

Landau also took time to explore Uzbekistan’s famed local markets in Tashkent and Samarkand, calling them «a must-see» for their abundance of dried fruits, spices, meats and freshly baked breads.

«The variety and quality here is like nothing I’ve ever seen before,» he wrote, sharing photos of stalls lined with produce reminiscent of the ancient Silk Road trade that once made the region a crossroads of culture and commerce.

However, Landau admitted there were limits to his adventurous palate. Posting a picture of a local delicacy — boiled sheep’s heads — he quipped: «Not going to lie, I didn’t dare to try this one.»