Bizarre Russian Foods

[peacetraveler22]

Remember my post about the Ukrainian market? I wrote there that I love food and my position hasn't changed. In America, we're getting ready to enter the most delicious time of year. We'll celebrate Christmas in less than two weeks. For my family, this means big gatherings and feasts. I can't really say I love Russian food. During my visits I tried some local cuisine, but didn't like most of it. I'm a very picky eater, not liking fish, seafood or a lot of meat. Recently on a popular U.S. website there was an article entitled "17 Bizarre Foods Every Russian Grew Up With." Maybe you'll find it amusing. I picked the most interesting dishes from the list and I've tasted a lot of the items. For me, the most disgusting delicacies are all the food molds stuffed with meats, herring and other treats. Like this photo, where the dish is called "herring under fur coat." :)

1. Olivye salad. I tasted this last New Year's eve. I don't like mayonnaise, so I can't eat it. I never put dressing on anything, or even ketchup, mustard or other condiments. I eat most things plain.



2. Salo. I think this is now more closely associated with Ukraine. I tasted it in Kyiv - ah, chewy fat! Not to my liking. I eat a lot of chicken and steak and all fat must be trimmed. I know some people enjoy this part of the meat but it gags me.



3. Kvas. You can easily find this in America, but the taste is too strong for me. During my recent trip to Russia, I tasted birch beer for the first time. Delicious and lighter!



4. Kompot. This drink I really like! I've had it in several Russian cafes, including Cafe Mu-Mu where I tasted it for the first time. Similar to American fruit punch, but more tasty with the real fruit thrown in.



5. Varenyky. Is this common in modern day Russia? I remember it being the national dish in Ukraine, available everywhere with a wide variety of stuffing like meat, potatoes and sweet fruits.



6. Kishka. Never tasted it and there's too much meat involved!! I doubt I would like it. Maybe I'll be brave next time and take a bite.



7. Blini w/Caviar. I can't eat it though I tried during a New Year's eve celebration last year with a Russian family. Too salty, and I don't like the strong fishy taste.



8. Kholodets. This is the most interesting dish! I remember at the holidays seeing all kinds of creative molds made out of swans, birds, animals, etc. Very strange and funny. :) During Valentine's Day, maybe they produce heart shaped molds? I also ate a version of this at Cafe Mu-Mu and didn't like it. The jelly texture is odd and the minced meat wasn't very good quality.



9. Herring, mayo and pickle sandwich. When we were completely drunk at the seedy St. Petersburg vodka bar, the guys tried to get me to eat this as a snack. I refused and ate cheese and crackers instead. This thick brown bread would have been much better to soak up the poison!! Perhaps this is why I needed help walking home at the end of the night! :) Pickles - I hate this food more than any other!



10. No words for this photo! :))



11. In Russia, I'm completely addicted to the sweets and candies. This is my favorite. Each time I visit, my host always has a bunch in the refrigerator and I eat these bars daily. Delicious!



What's your favorite national dish?

Also, I wonder whether it's interesting to readers if I write about how an average American family celebrates Thanksgiving and Christmas? I can take photos and write about my family celebrations if it's an interesting topic? What do you think? Vote below please.

Comments

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Okay, but for a foreigner these foods are very interesting and curious. :)

[whiteeye.livejournal.com]

I didn't doubt that foreigner wouldn't understand and like traditional russian food.

I don't like most of mentioned food either. Herring, caviar, holodets, vinegret, kishka, kvas, salo, okroshka. Olivye I can eat but it doesn't happen often.
Blini - did you eat without caviar? With jam or sour cream? It's tasty;)

Vareniki with cherry is very delicious!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No, caviar was the only option at my gathering. I would definitely like it with jams. :) What did you eat in America?

Re: Ошибки быть не может.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sauerkraut!! We eat this in the U.S., it's very common to put it on top of hot dogs. I strongly dislike it! I told you I'm a plain eater and this "fermented" taste is too much for me. Julia is used to being pampered, living a high-class lifestyle so it's no surprise she eats caviar for breakfast. I'm simple folk and more low maintenance. :)

[luin-nsk.livejournal.com]

When you want to smoke a bunch of small fish, like those on photo, it makes sense to smoke it whole (except intestines - better to remove it all along:)) And when it comes to eating we leave heads and tails, eating only meat.

[whiteeye.livejournal.com]

My husband ate steak - I am not a big fan of such kind of meat. We ate burgers, New York's cheesecake, Chicago's pizza. Did we miss something?;)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

No, these are great American choices! On your next trip, try to find a chain restaurant called "Outback." They have very good steaks, chicken, a lot of other choices for a good price. They are located in most U.S. States. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get good quality steak in America. :)

Re: Ошибки быть не может.

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

It is very interesting that you say "we," but doesn't mean you. "We like, but I do not like." I feel myself like a Martian. Recommend me a good movie about the Civil War in the US. I will comprehend the foundations of patriotism.
High-class lifestyle here isn't high-class lifestyle in the US. So, you can consider Inamora as a provincial middle-class girl.

Re: Ошибки быть не может.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This is an interesting observation you made about the use of "we." An immigrant is considered as much a part of our county as a native born person. We view our nation as a whole unit, so yes when I speak of America I use "we." Somehow a very strange concept for Russians to understand.

[whiteeye.livejournal.com]

I am wondering what you mean "great American choices"?:) I don't know what isa typical American food except burgers and fried chiken.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I meant it's typical for Americans to eat these foods. What is American food? Hmm, I wrote above that I believe steaks and burgers are traditional American foods. I guess fried chicken can be added to the list. :)

[enika-benika.livejournal.com]

LOL! You just made my day. I didn't laugh this hard since... forever! :)
I love most of the Russian foods. And I can't really understand all this American "delicacies" like hamburgers and hot dogs. Well, not as a day by day meal anyway.
So, if you will write about your holidays, please show us all the traditional American festive food that you like.
Thanks!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed the post! Only one person in the poll voted "no" to my question, so I'll write about the holidays and all of our traditional foods. My family likes to eat. :)

Re: Ошибки быть не может.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

In fact, red caviar is not expensive.
It's just salted salmon eggs.
I know in America is a lot of salmon especially in Seattle and around.
But I do not know if Americans use salmon eggs some way or just throw them out.

Black caviar is very expensive because sturgeon itself is rare.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

Is my memory correct that Outback is sort of Australian food? :))
At least they use Australian name and style.

I used to visit an Argentinian restaturant while I was in Houston for several months.
They served VERY tender and delicious meat, much better than an average American steak.

Argentina is also a meat giant, like USA.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, this chain of restaurants has the "Aussie" Outback theme. :) I eat there a lot, but mostly chicken not steak. To me, it's just as tasty as high class steakhouses where you will pay much more for the meal.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

Agree. Applebee is worse...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I like Applebees, Chili's and most U.S. restaurant chains. But not T.G.I.F.'s, which I've seen in Russia.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

In Russia a good steakhouse is "Goodman" chain.
But rather expensive.

Re: Ошибки быть не может.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

But you have a sugar daddy! :))

Re: Ошибки быть не может.

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

The situation becomes even more interesting when I read very often overloaded with rhetoric and pompous articles about veterans in the US press. I have a feeling that authors of the articles write them standing on knees and and wiping away tears:(
I'm not talking about veterans of the WW2 and other men who fought not for money.
As I know, the american soldiers now are professional mercenaries, earning money and privileges. They choose their own destiny, all is fair and square. Why are these flattering articles in newspapers? In Russia people drafted into the army at age 18, the army did not ask his opinion, does not pay him the money and the conditions of military service is much worse than in US. But flattering verbiage about veterans is much rarer. Perhaps this is due to the fact that veterans in Russia are not an organized political force. There is no need to manipulate them as separate political force.
(http://jpg1.ru/i/nNCkvpyJkpMl7uzUnUzdTI15C/)

[olgor.livejournal.com]

There are couple russian/ukrainian deli stores. :)

Re: Ошибки быть не может.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Pompous articles? You'll have to show me an example. However, I don't think it's pompous to speak highly of U.S. military personnel. These are some of the bravest people on the planet, making huge sacrifices in their lives to defend Americans and the principles for which we stand throughout the globe. They enter this force voluntarily, moving from place to place, long periods away from family and friends, etc. Yes, they are paid but it's not a lucrative profession unless you're a top ranking commander. It's very common to see Americans walk up to people in military uniforms on the street to thank them for their service, they often get discounts at restaurants, etc. We celebrated Veterans Day this week and many restaurants offered retired and active military free meals.

Why isn't it the same in Russia? You already know the answer. The same sense of national unity is missing there and patriotism isn't as strong. The national identity is still in flux, continually being defined.

[erik shindler (from livejournal.com)]

Shannon, better tell us about most popular american food, some may not be truely american like pizza but anyway.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I will write about our Thanksgiving feast, there you will see some of our foods. I think I'll also start taking photos when I go to the grocery store and eat meals at restaurants. This topic is of great interest to many readers. :)