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MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

cyndy: Where do you get your russian food? The one I eat has fruits and vegetables. All russian restaurants here in New York and in St Petersburg have wide selection of salads and at least one fruit salad on the menu. It is amazing how you jump to conclusions assuming you really know the subject. When I lived in Russia many years ago, we tried to eat a lot of vegetables and fruit (when it was available since there were times in the socialist Soviet Union when fruits would be hard to get). In fact what I really liked about the "Elki Palki" chain - which has family style restaurants all over russia now - is that they had a huge selection of russian-style salads. They had a salad bar too, which was simply great. I went to the one on Nevski Prospect every day. They also had a huge selection of fresh squeezed juices. In America, most family restaurants don't have free squeezed juice, like they do in any coffee shop in Europe and now at many cafes in St Petersburg.

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1599

cyndy--thing is that I'm not much of a leafy-veggie eater since I was a kid, more of a meat and potatoes person. So Russian food is a big qualifier for that, provided there's not too much cabbage in that dish Wink

. And I don't like a lot of surprises in my food, and I can't take spicy stuff etc. Yep, a matter of taste. I like practically all their salads--which usually lack leafy vegetables Wink

Bread is awesome, so are the soups.

I did not say that Russian food is 'the greatest', nor did I say any other food is better than Russian food, and it's not possible to say that any one country's national cusine is better than another--they all have different dishes, and I have a favourite of each. Plus, Russian cooking seems to defy me. I seem to be able to handle Italian cooking better.

I usually stock up on frozen pelmeni in the freezer for emergencies. And I didn't realise that I'd miss it after I left for a visa-run! Oh yes, home-made pelmeni is better, but never had the patience to do it!

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

cyndy: Refer to the guide to russian foods on this very site to find the traditional salads:

http://www.waytorussia.net/WhatIsRussia/RussianFood/Appetizers.html

When you say things with such certainty even when you don't know much about the subject reminds me of another person - GW Bush - who in responce to question "How do you know?" said "I just know"

Maybe that woman Natasha who were your guide in St Petersburg does not like vegetables and fruits, that does not mean that no one else in Russia does...

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 5:55 pm Post subject:

I seem to have hit a nerve with you Mr. Spice. For one thing, you just can't get over any criticism I had about your native St. Petersburg. And now yoiu can't handle any criticim about Russian cuisine.

I never said I was an authority of Russian food/cuisine. My question was directed at Mediashark because I was curious why she listed food in her list of things she most likes about Russia.

Food of course is a huge part of life and most people enjoy eating. I am certainly one of them. You asked me where I get my Russian food. Well from Russian friends I have is one source. Different people have invited me to their homes for dinner or briought home cooked Russian dishes to my house. Occassionally I eat at a Russian deli type restaurant in West Springfield which as taditional dishes. I also prepare Russian dishes especially when I have Russian company. I have two very nice Russian cook books and use the internet as well. I am sure if you came to my house, you would like my Russian cooking!

However, While I do enjoy a number of Russian dishes, many of these dishes are heavy and I attributemuchof this to the climate. People need to eat more meat etc. in colder climates. And many fruits and vegetables can be expensive and hard to get.

I am not a big fan of pickled salads and vcegetables, sausage, herring and certain meats either which are part of the Slavic diet.

Anyways I don't think you understand me Mr. Spice but perhaps you can see that it is possible to like Russian certain dishes in a country but have stronger preferences for other cuisine.

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

Whether you like or dislike russian food is up to you. You have a right to hate russian food and many people do (I can't blame them). But you like to make sweeping generalizations about russia and all things russian based on your limited knowledge and exprience and I am just pointing out to other people who may not know about russia and its culture and come here to learn about it that the statement you made was not true. My responces seem to hit a nerve with you since you respond to my responces.

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 7:15 pm Post subject:

I did not make a sweeping generalization here. Fresh fruits and vegetables outside of cabbage, potatos, onions, leeks, cucmbers, tomatos, apples, oranges and a fe others, are generally not a big part of Russian cuisine. Of course n summer there is much more variety, berries, melons etc. Spice you live in New York, not Russia any more. You an get anything in NYC and you know that.

I am realizing more and more that you are hardly typical Russian.
I have a feeling that I like more Russian dishes than you and crtainly am not as uptight as you. Limiting yourself to one glass of red wine one night a week, wow you live it up! Smile

affirmo1413 · Just Starting Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 2

mediashark, i completely agree with your words.

init6 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 8:17 pm Post subject:

I've been lucky enough to try a pretty good variety of Russian food here in Hochheim since my German friends are ethnic Russians.

Those dried fish that seem to take four hours to rip about an ounce of meat out of (reba?) are delicious with beer, as are the dried squid, kol'mar. I love seafood so it's easy for me to down dried fish and so forth that looks unappetizing but tastes great.

Kvas is pretty good, but I think I'd enjoy it a lot more on a hot Moscow day than in a cool, overcast German garden. Razz

Long story short, I havent tried any Russian food or drink yet that I plain dont like. We will be having pelmeni tomorrow, so I will report on that afterwards. Wink

Ad yeah, people who do not smoke obviously do not understand why those of us who DO like to be able to smoke in a restaurant! We better get some think tank working on that...I cannot imagine why. Rolling Eyes

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

I was not talking about myself, cyndy. I live a different life. I eat at different restaurants, and certainly ate more sushi and french food than russian food lately. But I have a lot of friends in Russia and know a lot of typical "russians" here. If you exclude tomatoes and cucumbers, there are not too many vegetables left to eat :) Rommaine lettice is also very popular in russia. Carrots are very popular and lots of traditional russian dishes have them (including "plov" which is a traditional food in asian republics but is extremely popular amond russians). And radishes, especially served with sliced cucumbers and sour cream are another favorite for most russians. And even in the old soviet times, we ate all of those. So, your statement that russian food does not have vegetables and fruits is not correct. Obviously, I can get more exotic vegetables and fruits here in New York now. And at times in the past in Russia we did not eat as much fruit because those were hard times and we could not get some of the fruits and vegetables, especially in the winter. But if you look at any good russian cookbook, salads and vegetables dominate many recipes.

Again, that has nothing to do with my taste. I like Thai food, for example. But I am not claiming that this something that russians on average like. Interestingly enough, sushi is extremely popular among russian immigrants here in America. Especially among women. I have met a single russian woman in her 20s in NY that did not love sushi....

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:58 pm Post subject:

Root vegetales are easiest to grow in Russia and therefore are staples. i.e. Beets, turnip, potaots, carrots, radishes etc Mushrooms and berries are also harvested seasonally and preserved. I realuze that vegetables are part of the Russian diet but the vaiation is rather limited and many salads and veg. dishes are pickled or laden w/ sour cream. My original point and questionning was that in my opinion, Russian food is heavier and less varied than say French, Italian (not American Italian,, Asian, Indian etc. It does not have the reputation and followingother cusines for example as other cusines.

sputnik · Lounge Lizard Joined: 02 Jan 2005 Posts: 141

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

cyndy: Still strongly disagree. Ovber the years I have been to numerous Italian restaurants here in New York, and also in Italy. Italian cousine is the most limited I ever experienced. Most of it is pasta and the salads are pretty much the same. I have been to some fancy and expensive Italian restaurants and try different apetizers and salads too. Again, Russian food has much more varierty. This is obviously my personal opinion and I may be wrong.

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:27 pm Post subject:

Calimari I love especially if it is prepared with a light dusting of flour or bread crumbs and fried. Yum.

I like sea food too El Casey including sashimi especially with hot mustard, sushi with fresh ginger and wasabi, and raw oysters and clams. Maine lobster is the best lobster in the world, way better than warm water rock lobster.

I just have never grew fond of pickled herring or dried salted fish. I am sure it is a delicacy. And while I believe in being poilite especially as a house guest and that means trying all dishes, one mornng at the breakfast table at my friend's apt. in Estonia, try as I might, I just couldn't get myself to try the cold herring. Now maybe at sunset over a few beers or cocktails I could handle this, but not 1st thing in the morning. Thank you I'll stick to coffee, juice, cereal, yogurt, cheese, fruit, eggs, rolls etc.

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:49 pm Post subject:

It's okay to disagree but let me ask you Mr. Spice? Do you think Russian cuisine is as good and high quality as others? Freshness, variety, calories and nutrition but perhaps most importantly taste? I think even you would agree that it is not in the top 5 list of world loved cuisines. And that again is why I posted to Mediashark w/ respect to her list. I am beginning to sound like a broken record and its interesting because probably more than 90% of the people in the world not counting Russia and former soviet countries, I appreciate and enjoy Russian food. And certainly I have not only tasted numerous dishes from zakuski to desserts but taught myself how to cook many special Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian, Estonian and Central Asian dishes. I am more familiar than you know!

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

cyndy: I think this argument is turning from logical to ridiculous. I think rating cousine is a silly business. This is certainly a matter of taste. In New York some of the most expensive restaurants are French and Russian (like Petrossian, for example). That does not make it good or best, necessarily. When the russian food is cooked well, it's certainly one of my favorites. I love mushroom soup, I love "Olivier" salad, I loved potatoes with forest mushrooms (can't find that in the US, only in Russia), I love "vinigret" - aka beet with potatoes salad, etc. This is my personal preference. I have been to many French restaurants where I loved the food. I ate some unbelievable sushi. I ate at some diners where for $10 I had excellent meals. At a good russian restaurant in St Petersburg, the variety of apetizers, salads and main enties can rival the best of the breed Iralian or French restaurants in New York. I went to one great restarant there close to Nevsky - don't remember the name. The selection of food there was unbelievable - from Georgian shishkebab (basiclaly part of russian cuisine) to all russian delicacies... All of us (diverse group from diff. countries) felt we had one of the best meals ever...

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