My tabaka came with a side of green beans mixed with lightly whipped yogurt.

WSJ: A Bribe-Worthy Chicken Dish | Mega Meal

Served on a bed of green beans mixed with yogurt and aromatic herbs, tabaka is a showstopper.

WSJ: A Bribe-Worthy Chicken Dish | Mega Meal

As my introductory tabaka arrived at the table, I was enveloped in a garlicky cloud of steam.

WSJ: A Bribe-Worthy Chicken Dish | Mega Meal

Shops at the Tabaka trading centre were looted as police, in four Land Rovers, tried to restore order.

BBC: Violence at Kenya polls

Like my first kiss, my first taste of chicken tabaka was memorable as much for its context as for its deliciousness.

WSJ: A Bribe-Worthy Chicken Dish | Mega Meal

Tabaka is a classic dish from the Republic of Georgia.

WSJ: A Bribe-Worthy Chicken Dish | Mega Meal

And my favorite, chicken tabaka with fiery garlic sauce.

WSJ: A Bribe-Worthy Chicken Dish | Mega Meal

No matter that it wasn't authentic, as I later discovered on the banks of the Aragvi River, in a small cafe in Mtskheta, Georgia, where I finally tasted chicken tabaka in its original form.

WSJ: A Bribe-Worthy Chicken Dish | Mega Meal