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Russian Foods experiences Good/bad
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Posted by: duplantisjj

I'm planning a trip to Ukraine in October and am curious as to people's experiences/opinions on local foods. I've heard of salted fish and beer...and somehow that doesn't sound pleasant. If I go to my girl's house and her family cooks, what can I expect?? I'm a master chef but still have been called a "picky" eater. Can somone tell me what is in this famous Russian soup/stew served in a bread bowl? Any experiences good and bad would be appreciated. My UW tells me of a dish called Sashika (sp?)...sounds like shish ka bobs....which I do like....anyone familiar with this?

Posted by: Chrismc

Shashlik is a form of Shish kebab, usually cooked outdoors al la BBQ style. In my experience some of the food is very good and some very average, but most of it is worth trying. In my visits to the FSU I always try as many Russian/Ukrainian dishes as possible, most of them I have quite liked, especially the shashlik, borsch, pelmini's etc

I have to say, I find it hard it believe you are a 'master chef' and yet seem to know little if anything about food from the FSU. Some Western foods have their routes in Russia et al.

Posted by: duplantisjj

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Shashlik is a form of Shish kebab, usually cooked outdoors al la BBQ style. In my experience some of the food is very good and some very average, but most of it is worth trying. In my visits to the FSU I always try as many Russian/Ukrainian dishes as possible, most of them I have quite liked, especially the shashlik, borsch, pelmini's etc

I have to say, I find it hard it believe you are a 'master chef' and yet seem to know little if anything about food from the FSU. Some Western foods have their routes in Russia et al.

Hey thanks, I figured shashilk sounded like kabobs, probably minus veggies. Yeah, I was trained in New Orleans and studied mainly French, Spanish and Carribean influenced styles of cooking which are very prevalent in Louisiana. Later I got a degree in Geology then an MBA and at the current time I'm a Geologist in Alaska, and I own a Cajun restaurant, so, funny how fate turns you around. Is Borsch that stew served in bread bowls? I seem to remember reading about that.

Posted by: mistermopar

Any food over in the FSU is worth trying,I am also a picky eater.
I found I enjoyed most of the food I tried,with a couple of exceptions,I don't like the looks of head cheese,but it was offered while visiting someone so I took a little,that vodka shooter sure came in handy.

Salted fish and beer is pretty good,differant from salted peanuts or pretzels...
but when in the Ukraine do as the Ukrainians do...LOL

Randy

Posted by: Caritas

Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_cuisine

This article happened to be pretty accurate. Keep in mind that the Ukrainian cuisine is very high in calories (like Italian).

Posted by: GoingToRussia

I'm not sure what a bread bowl is but the stew you speak of could be borsh. A true borsh has beets but some people make there own substitutions like cabbage or meat.

There is another soup served cold and the broth is made from milk/cream and contains green veggies. Salanka is my favorite. It is a soup with little strips of meat and sausage. All the soups are very "tasty".

The fish is good. In fact the best tasting fish I ever had was in Russia ... eel!

When I was in Kiev they made a lot of dishes cooked in little clay pots then served. The dishes were mostly potatos and meat for flavor. Okay but not that great. They also had something that looked like a big corn dog. It was served on a plate, not a stick

This was very good. It was juicy with little pieces of meat and veggies ... maybe some cabbage.

They have an animal over there that looks like and is as big as a beaver but it has a long rat tail. They even call this meat rat. Lana said she would cook for me and I said, "NO THANKS" with a disgusting face!!! To which she replied, "It's Russia it's normal"!!!

I found the quality of meat very poor. In fact the beef looked gray, wasn't sure it was even beef. Even the chicken was tough, I hear they use old chickens that can't lay eggs anymore. I'm sure you can get good meat, you just have to pay extra which most FSU people don't or can afford.

BON APPETITE!!!

Posted by: royalpalace774

I haven't tasted an authentic Russian dish when I was in Odessa , but I can say that all of the restaurants that I ate at had great tasting food. But they also were not places that specialized in Russian food.

But they were excellent.

Posted by: mistermopar

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

They have an animal over there that looks like and is as big as a beaver but it has a long rat tail. They even call this meat rat. Lana said she would cook for me and I said, "NO THANKS" with a disgusting face!!! To which she replied, "It's Russia it's normal"!!!

It was a big RAT GTR...some side effects from Chernobyl disaster...

I found the chicken that I have bought very good in Russia with a lot more taste than what I get in the grocery stores here.
Concidering I get my beef from my parents beef farm,I found the beef not bad in Russia.The colour of it could be that a lot of the blood has drained from the meat.Or maybe it wasn't beef you had ate....

Don't forget alot of red meat in N.America is inject with red dye to make it look better and fresher.

Randy

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

It was a big RAT GTR...some side effects from Chernobyl disaster...

Ah, maybe this is why I glow at night ... EH?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

I found the chicken that I have bought very good in Russia with a lot more taste than what I get in the grocery stores here.

I found the chicken in Russia tough but good and tender in Moldova.

Posted by: mistermopar

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

Ah, maybe this is why I glow at night ... EH?

I found the chicken in Russia tough but good and tender in Moldova.

Hummm,maybe I had a differant kind of chicken....

Randy

Posted by: Big wheel

I thought for the most part the food was petty good. never had the rat but hey maybe next time. Anyway there is plenty of restaurants. you will find something you like.

Posted by: PrincetonLion

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

My God, you are really intriguing me!
I have lived in Russia for 35 years and did not ever hear about that mysterious beast!

Posted by: AkMike

Tanya said that rat is muskrat. The natives eat it up here (greasy)but I've declined. Stay away from 'Ooha', it's a fish/hunters soup made from fish heads.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

Tanya said that rat is muskrat. The natives eat it up here (greasy)but I've declined. Stay away from 'Ooha', it's a fish/hunters soup made from fish heads.

Yes I declined the fish soup too! I found out what it was before I went to Russia the first time. Maybe she was teasing me about the rat and fish soup ... maybe not. I only know, "It's Russia - It's Normal!".