About Russia
About Russia home | Geography | Picture Gallery | Politics | History | Religion | Sport | Food | Poetry | Russian Events in the UK | More about Russian
Russian Cuisine
Mealtimes in Russia
The main meal of the day is a three course lunch at midday. Soups are eaten all year around rather than only when the weather is cold. In the morning you will be offered coffee with a sandwich rather that tea with a piece of toast. Russians drink black tea rather than milky tea, often with a slice of lemon and a spoonful of sugar. Lovely home made Russian jam varenje - варенье - is served to tea along with lots of sweeties and biscuits. At their dachas (country houses) they still have tea from a samovar - самовар - which really works as a kettle, on the top of which you place a teapot to keep it warm. Tasty rye bread is probably more popular in Russia than the white wheat bread. You can buy Russian Recipes rye breads in supermarkets in the UK today.
Shchi - щи – is a cabbage soup.
Kvas - квас – non-alcoholic drink made from rye bread
Pel’meni - пельмени – a ravioli-like dish (we have a Russian pel’meni delivery service here in London these days)
Golubtsy - голубцы – cabbage parcels stuffed with minced meat
квас on sale in Russia
a small market table
The fast food culture is still not widely spread in Russia as it is in the West (though of course they have McDonalds etcю in big cities). Cooking is very much a part of everyday life, an average family would have a cooked dinner/supper every day). Is is very popular to have an allotment in Russia where people grow vegetables, fruits and herbs. The excess of the produce is sold by the growers at small markets, located near food shops/bus stops etc.
Be prepared to face a great amount of food on a Russian table if it is a special occasion. The striking spread of zakuski закуски (hors d’oeuvres): salads, meat assortment, seledka селёдка (salty herring), and pickles are laid amongst bottles of vodka and wine. Russians like toasting (to your health, to the prosperity, to the cook etc). You will be probably be expected to take part in it as well. Very often traditionally the third toast is to absent friends (“to those ones, who are not with us” – meaning the dead ones as well). This does not mean you can not drink in between the toasts, though, if you wish.
