Food & Drink

Traditional Russian cuisine is an important part of Russian national culture. After market reforms in the last few years, Russia made the necessary transition from gastronomic disaster area to providing the world with some of the most underrated top-class cuisines.

Wheat, rye, oats and millet is the main foodstuff in Russia. So bread plays a very significant part in their diet. Breakfast is around 7-8 a.m and usually consists of a light meal including black tea, cold meat and cheese. It is often accompanied by a yogurt-like drink called kefir, which is praised for its stomach-settling qualities.

Lunch is usually betweeb 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Favorite staples such as MidPirozhki (savoury doughnuts), a variation on ravioli called pelmyeni and the southern favorite of shashlyk (meat kebabs) are often served with boiled buckwheat or a mayonnaise-doused salad. Also popular are hot soups with a hearty spoonful of sour cream stirred in. A slice of black bread, is always available with any meal.

Some of the specialities include Christmas Goose, Buckwheat Kasha, with Crackling, Wheaten Blinis, Stuffed Suckling Pig, Reindeer Meat Roast,
Sauerkraut & Meat Soup, Bear Meat Cutlets, Salted Mushroooms, Roast Duck, Meat Jelly Pelmeni (Poached Pasties w/Meat Filling).

Russian Etiquette

Although Russians love to have a great time, they also put a lot of emphasis on etiquette. Men are expected to seat their partners and serve all drinks.

To leave empty bottles on the table is considered to bad luck. A round of drinks should always be preceded by a toast. Toasts to health require you to down your glassful in one. Smoking is acceptable at all junctures of the evening and non-smoking areas in restaurants are rare.

Drinking in Russia

Drinking on a large scale is a national tradition much ingrained in the culture. Vodka, a Russian favorite is drunk in shots, preferably ice-cold, and followed by a bite of marinaded fish or pickled cucumber. Russians are famous for their ability to tolerate vodka, much higher than that of most tourists.

Russia are one of the three top tea drinking nations along with Britain and Japan. Tea is mostly drunk black and sugar and lemon can be added for taste. In Russia people drink tea as often as possible with a sweet cake and a small dish of fruit conserve. Coffee is a common drink in Russia but is not very popular.

Russia is the world's third largest wine producer. Russians love fortified wines like port, sherry and madeira, but these are sweetened with sugar. Most of the wine produced in Russia stays in the country but some are exported. Tsimlanskoye Champanskoe, Anapa Riesling, Tsinandali and Gourdzhua, Mukuzani and Saperavi, Aligote and Riesling. Cabernet and Romanesti are more traditional. All the wine growing areas, produce excellent brandy as well.

Beer is as popular in Russia as it is in Europe. Russian beer is still made by the traditional home brewing methods and are of a very high standard. Kvas is a summer drink made from fermented rye bread. It is a very light beer and has a licorice taste with a low alcohol content.

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