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

[demonfrost.livejournal.com]

Traditional Russian cuisine has a lot of fat because it's the best nutrition during cold winters. Modern mayonaisse from stores is far from healthy food though, but home-made one is pretty good (but rare). "Salo" is very healthy (if taken from village grown pigs) and tasty if frozen in the right way with solt, garlic and black pepper.

Well, I like the most of tratidional Russian cuisine except kasha (porridge), but only home-made! In cafe like Mu-Mu it is often cooked by Middle Asian migrants, the same thing is at the stores. Kholodets in Mu-Mu has nothing common with true one, it is with gelatine while in home-made the jelly is cooled rich brine. I like it very much.

I like salty and fishy tastes so I find great caviar, herring, dried fish ("taranka") etc.

Vareniky and pelmeny (with meat) are still very common although it is very hard to find the natural ones at stores, without soya and artificial flavourings.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Your palate is suited for Russian foods! I don't need all these fatty foods to keep me warm. I actually almost never get cold. In winter, I don't even wear a coat. The whole time I was in Russia in February I never once felt frozen, even though I was only wearing a light coat. Something strange with my body that I'm always warm so I like cold temperatures. This is why I love Russian winter. :)

[demonfrost.livejournal.com]

I also don't need those fats to get warmed, but I like such food nevertheless :) In the same time, I don't like fatty food from other cuisines (American fast-food, French foie gras etc.)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

French food is the worst for me, esp. foie gras. I ate it in Paris. Every time I'm in France, I starve because meal portions are so small. In Russia, portion sizes are good. Comparable to U.S. but not quite as large.