Global Table Adventure

Monday Meal Review: Russia

November 5, 2012 By Sasha Martin 11 Comments

This week we took the Russian Potato Salad to a potluck event in downtown Tulsa called "Open Tables" where individuals of different religions and belief systems gather to share food and company. It was my first time. While the discussion would have been fascinating (we were encouraged to talk about our differences), my table - through a series of prior commitments, baby bedtimes, and no shows - had completely vacated by the time discussion started. And so it came to be that, while the room … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Monday Meal Review, Russia

Recipe: Russian “Egg, Egg & Caviar”

November 4, 2012 By Sasha Martin 6 Comments

The scrambled eggs in Russia are so moist and creamy, you'd swear there's cheese folded up inside. To achieve this texture, the eggs are never whisked or salted at this stage, but broken directly into a pot (not a pan), then cooked over gentle heat in a "on again, off again" game that makes Ross and Rachel's relationship on Friends look stable. Finally, a generous swoosh of heavy cream and a sprinkle of seasoning finishes the eggs off right. Then, while they're still steaming hot, you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast, Europe, Holidays, International Recipes, Russia

Recipe: Russian Tea

November 4, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

If you want to try something uniquely Russian (at least, I'd never heard of it until this week), try a cup of nice, black tea with a spoonful of fruit jam stirred in. Tea is the national drink of Russia, while the jam is a happy bonus. If you're serving to more than one, be sure to brew the tea extra strong. According to Wikipedia: A notable feature of Russian tea culture is the two-step brewing process. Firstly, tea concentrate (Russian: заварка) is prepared: a quantity of dry tea … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol-Free, Drinks, Europe, Hot, International Recipes, Russia

Recipe: Pumpkin Olad’yi

November 2, 2012 By Sasha Martin 10 Comments

Sometimes it's hard being a mom. Take this week, for example. People I don't even know have been throwing candy at my daughter from giant parade floats. They call it Halloween, but I call it "the reason why my daughter is still awake an hour and a half past her bedtime, thrashing around like a junkie in withdrawal." You see, I don't let Ava eat all her candy in one sitting. She gets a couple of pieces at snack time for a few days in a row. That's it. Any candy that remains gets donated to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast, Europe, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Russia, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegetarian

Recipe: Russian Potato Salad | Olivier Salad

November 1, 2012 By Sasha Martin 11 Comments

Winter doesn't just bite in Russia. It eats you alive. In the far east of this great nation, temperatures can actually drop to -95F. In the west, things are nearly so dire - winter might only drop to -22F (!), with occasional warm spurts in past years reaching 50F. 50F isn't so bad. But the rest? Yikes. By the time New Year's Eve comes, Russians are ready to break up the monotony with a blast of soul-warming comfort food. Major. Everyone tells me New Year's Eve in Russia wouldn't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Meat, New Year's, Potatoes, Potluck Friendly, Russia, Salads, Technique Thursday

Menu: Russia (with Double Giveaway)

October 31, 2012 By Sasha Martin 35 Comments

There's a Russian proverb which states "The appetite comes with eating" (Appetit prikhodit vo vremya yedy). Sometimes, when trying new foods, we just have to dig in (especially - oh goodness - when it comes to trying caviar the first time). Only then can we know if we have an appetite for the new dish. Thanks Russia! We definitely used this advice this week. All recipes and meal review will be posted throughout the week. Pumpkin Olad'yi [Recipe] This is Russian breakfast at her best. Think … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Menu Wednesday, Russia

About the food of Russia

October 30, 2012 By Sasha Martin 1 Comment

River Angara at Talzy close to Lake Baikal. Photo by octagon.

Ava's been pointing to the giant orange mass on our world map lately and asking "are we eating that country tonight?" Each time I know without looking that she's pointing to Russia. She always is. To her little three year-old mind, there's nothing more enticing than the biggest country on the map (Russia is literally 1/8th of the world's landmass!). This week I can finally tell her "yes." Russian food is simplicity itself. We're talking cozy staples designed to get people through … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Russia, Travel Tuesday