MOSCOW, December 23. /Dunyo IA/. A special episode of the popular Russian television programme “Chefs on Wheels” (“Повара на колесах”), dedicated to Samarkand, aired on “Channel One” Russia (“Первый канал”), reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The report was filmed during a visit to Tashkent and Samarkand from 12 to 18 September 2025, organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Committee for Tourism of Uzbekistan, as part of the programme crew’s official trip.

Renowned Russian chefs explored Samarkand’s culinary and tourist attractions while highlighting Uzbekistan’s rich cultural heritage, aiming to boost tourism from Russia. The journey began with visits to iconic landmarks such as Registan Square, the Gur-Emir Mausoleum and the Amir Timur Monument. Later, the chefs were welcomed into local homes, where they prepared traditional dishes such as plov and lepyoshka (flatbread), and enjoyed a performance by a folk ensemble. The day concluded with visits to the Kongil tourist village and “Meros” paper factory. The programme culminated with the chefs cooking Samarkand plov on Registan Square, followed by a tasting attended by locals and tourists.

The show “Chefs on Wheels” enjoys significant popularity among Russian audiences, with a total viewership of over 18 million across federal and regional media outlets.

In each episode, the celebrity chefs compete in culinary battles at central city landmarks, preparing their own versions of local dishes. Residents and visitors taste the creations, vote, and select the winner, combining entertainment with cultural and gastronomic discovery.