Gayane Breiova on Armenian cuisine as a cultural code
“Opening a restaurant in Armenia is my dream, if the right location and the right moment arise,” noted Gayane Breiova, restaurateur and owner of the restaurant “Gayane’s” in Moscow, in an exclusive interview for HoReCa Magazine Armenia.
— Ms. Gayane Breiova, please tell us a little about yourself, your roots, and your personal journey.
— I was born in Yerevan in 1975, and since then my life has been inseparably connected with this city, which will always be a source of strength and inspiration for me. At the age of 17, I left Yerevan and moved to Prague, where I spent two years, and for the past 32 years I have been living in Moscow. This city has become my second home, but I have never lost my connection with Armenia—my historical homeland.
My education is in economics, as well as an MBA in marketing. However, my path into the restaurant business began in 1994, when I moved to Moscow. At the very beginning, I worked as a waitress, and in 1998 I tried my hand at the Moscow stock exchange, but when the default occurred, I returned to the restaurant industry. This is how I started my journey in the restaurant business—from the position of a waitress, then manager, chef, bartender, and finally director. This experience became a solid foundation on which I later opened my own restaurant.
In 2001, I opened my first restaurant, and since then many more projects have followed. Today, my restaurant Gayane’s is celebrating its 15th anniversary, and I am proud that over these years I have managed to create something unique that brings joy and satisfaction to our guests.
— What inspired you to open your own restaurant?
— Gayane Breiova: It is a journey. When you make the decision to go into business, over time you come to understand whether it is truly yours, whether it is your element. For me, it became clear when I began managing processes and delving into every detail. I went through this path, and it inevitably led me to opening my own restaurant.
I never questioned what to do or where to invest. Experience, the stages I went through, and my inner response—all pointed to the fact that the restaurant business is my true calling.
— Ms. Gayane Breiova, you actively promote Armenian cuisine and culture. In your opinion, what is the most important aspect of Armenian cuisine?
— You know, Armenian cuisine is not just about the dishes; it is a cultural code that we preserve and pass down from generation to generation. We are its bearers, and for me, this is valuable and truly important.
Gayane Breiova: Through my love for traditions, through knowledge, through the taste of each dish, I strive to convey who we are. This is my way of expressing love for the Armenian people, for their history and heritage.
— What sets your restaurant “Gayane’s” apart from other restaurants?
— I have the utmost respect for my colleagues. The more Armenian restaurants there are, the better—it will help make our cuisine truly popular and show its diversity to the world.
Gayane Breiova: There are not many Armenian restaurants in Moscow. Do you know why? Because Armenian cuisine is complex. It is not easy to present it in all its depth, to preserve its traditions, stories, and flavor nuances. It is not just food—it is culture, the soul of a people, an entire philosophy that requires a special approach.
I was one of the first to create a unique project—it is not just a restaurant of Caucasian cuisine, but something more. I put my name on it, my reputation, and that is a huge responsibility. Every mistake, every decision is mine to bear, because when you place your own name on something, there can be no compromises.
I do not just manage the restaurant—I cook, I greet guests, I am fully immersed in the process. Such an approach has been rare, and for me it is fundamentally important to preserve the authenticity of Armenian cuisine. I have never sought to adapt it to the tastes of other cultures or make it fashionable for the sake of trends. Yet, at the same time, I have found my own path of development. I reveal new facets of Armenian cuisine, showing its contemporary expression. I wrote about this in my book “Gayane Jan”, where I share my vision and love for traditions.
In my restaurant Gayane’s, traditional Armenian cuisine remains unchanged—just as our ancestors prepared it. But once every six months, I allow myself to experiment, playing with flavors and creating original interpretations of Armenian dishes. Every six months I update the menu, adding bold combinations and unexpected gastronomic solutions. This is a space where I take creative risks, explore new horizons, and show that our cuisine is capable of surprising.
Yet, despite the experiments, the main principle remains unchanged: respect for traditions, impeccable quality, and sincere love for Armenian cuisine.
— In your opinion, how is the restaurant business developing in Armenia?
— Gayane Breiova: The restaurant business in Armenia is developing very rapidly. Each year, new and interesting concepts open in the country, and Armenian gastronomy is attracting the attention of an increasing number of tourists. There is much to learn in Armenia—from the interior and atmosphere to the food itself.
Gayane Breiova: The country is full of restaurants with unique concepts, each offering something special. I visit Armenia at least two to three times a year, and each time I try to visit new places to see how the restaurant scene is evolving and what ideas local restaurateurs are bringing to life.
Armenian restaurateurs have enormous potential. They are true patriots of their craft, striving to preserve and enhance the traditions of Armenian cuisine, implement innovations, and create restaurant spaces that become not just places to eat, but true industrial masters of the gastronomic world.
— Ms. Gayane Breiova, do you have any new projects related to Armenia?
— I am very familiar with the restaurant business and, of course, always open to new projects. However, for me, one of the main factors is the rent, which has increased significantly in recent years. Every time I face rental conditions, I assess how well they align with my criteria and capabilities.
If there is a suitable space that meets all my requirements, I will recognize it immediately. And then, without a doubt, I will begin working on the project. I sincerely hope that in the future rental rates will decrease so that restaurateurs can operate in more comfortable conditions, develop new ideas and projects, without worrying about the financial burden placed on their business.
— What is your main secret to success, and what motivates you in your work?
— I have been asked this question since childhood, and I always spent a long time thinking about how to answer it correctly. It was asked so often that I could not find a response that fully reflected what I feel.
Over time, I realized that there is no single simple reason why I am the way I am. My energy is not the result of effort but something innate. It is a quality that was given to me from the very beginning. I was born as God created me, and that is not my achievement. I honestly and sincerely thank God for everything. This gift is a great responsibility, one that I live with every day.
As for motivation, for me it is not a fleeting inspiration but an inner state. I am motivated by life and its manifestations. Travel, children, dancing, cooking, new opportunities, delicious food—all of this fills my soul, brings me joy, inspires me, and drives me forward. It is in these moments that I feel I am truly living. This is my motivation and my source of inspiration.
— Ms. Gayane Breiova, how do you keep going and move forward without giving up? What advice would you give to young people who want to work in this field?
— Svetlana, first of all, it is important to understand yourself and your essence. When you realize this, you no longer need to struggle or prove anything to the world. Struggle is exhausting, and life is not a war, but an art of living each moment. The main thing is to learn not to break in the face of difficulties, but to accept them as part of the journey.
Gayane Breiova: When you truly open your heart, you find the strength to move forward. It is important not to dwell on the question “why?” and not to fall into despair—that is the worst thing that can happen to a person. Despair is a loss of faith; it is the moment when you stop trusting God and yourself.
Gayane Breiova: No one promised that life would be perfect. We create illusions ourselves, and happiness is not determined by circumstances, but by the choice we make every day. Love life, set goals for yourself, do not be afraid to move forward—and then peace, strength, and confidence will radiate from you.
