Nane Simonyan’s Culinary Journey: From College to Cuisine

Just a year ago, Nane Simonyan could only imagine the life she is living today.

Growing up in the village of Akori in Armenia’s Lori region, Nane dreamed of turning her love of cooking into a profession. Today, that dream is steadily taking shape. Thanks to a COAF Youredjian Scholarship, Nane spent five months studying culinary arts at Yeremyan Academy in Yerevan, taking the first major step toward a career she had long envisioned.

“After studying different cuisines at the Academy, I became fully convinced that cooking is truly my calling,” Nane says. “I want to continue growing and developing in this field.”

The experience did more than teach her recipes and techniques. It gave her confidence.

That confidence now serves her well in the kitchen of Kamancha, one of Yerevan’s popular restaurants, where she works as a cold dishes chef. Her days begin with preparing the restaurant’s salads and appetizers and often end after she has crafted nearly 50 portions.

With a smile, Nane admits that practice has made her remarkably precise.

“I’ve become so skilled that I no longer need a scale,” she says. “I know exactly how many grams of each ingredient every salad requires.”

Yet while restaurant life requires precision and consistency, Nane’s creativity comes alive at home.

Living on her own as a student inspired her to experiment with simple, affordable breakfasts each morning. Before long, those meals sparked a new idea.

“I thought it would be useful not only to prepare and enjoy these dishes, but also to share them with other students,” she explains. “That’s how the idea for my food blog was born.”

Today, Nane continues to balance work, learning, and creativity, all while moving closer to her ultimate goal: opening a tea house of her own.

Her journey—from SMART student to scholarship recipient, from culinary academy trainee to professional chef—is a testament to what can happen when talent meets opportunity. And for Nane, this is only the beginning.

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