Entertaining the Russian WayDavai!Advertisement FeatureWhat is the meaning of the Russian way? While the stereotypes run wild when it comes to Russians and drinking culture, there would be many out there stumped when it comes to naming typical foods from Russia. Yet there is much more to Russian culinary culture than the humble beetroot and potato, and indeed a whole lot more to Russian drinking culture than first meets the eye.
Another myth about the Russian way that needs to be busted is about drinking alone. In the James Bond film Golden Eye, Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane) gets it all wrong. What’s even more appalling than his accent is that he takes a shot of vodka when confronting Bond… and that’s all. Nothing more. Watch a Russian film and you’ll find out that drinking is always accompanied by eating, whether it’s a slice of sausage or a piece of buttered bread to a choice from an elaborate spread of hors d'oeuvres, known as zakuski. Zakuski can be simple snacks or an art form in themselves. Imagine mouth-watering morsels of Russian blini, smoked salmon, herring, caviar, boiled eggs with mayonnaise, preserved vegetables and delicious breads. It’s the type of stuff you’d love to pack away in a picnic hamper, but not exactly the best when you’d prefer to leave some room for desserts! If you have a sweet tooth however, you can’t go wrong with some cognac from the Caucasus Mountains in Southern Russia with some gourmet bitter dark chocolate from St. Petersburg. It’s hard to beat!
To go from Entertaining the Russian way to
|
