Questions For Our Russian Friends

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by Estreeter

Good I'm moving permanently into Casa Del palo5





I expect servants

You won't get the sheer excellence of service the British delegation got at the Yalta conference in January 1945 though. Even in wartime, all it took was for one of the delegation to comment that it was a pity that there were no goldfish in the goldfish pond in the former aristocratic mansion which the Russians have set aside for their use; and 24 hours later, there were all the goldfish in the pond that any British heart could possibly wish for. It was a sweet and courteous gesture which the British delegates sincerely appreciated.

It was also how they knew that the Russians had bugged their accomodation and were listening in.

[george anson]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

Russia being such a vast territory and extending from the Varangerfjord in Norway, the remote taiga forests of Finland, Kaliningrad, Belarus and Ukraine on one side all the way to the edge of Alaska on the opposite side; how do Russian people identify themselves geographically? Do you consider yourselves to be within Europe or on the outside, looking in, or for that matter on the outside not giving a monkey's?

Being British, I feel a strange sense of being European and yet not just exactly European, of seeing Europe from the outside, looking in. Do Russians have this feeling?

Does Russia not have this divine sense of purpose ? Almost having had that right of leadership bestowed on it as a successor to the Byzantine Empire ?

It crops up in policy. Their fear of the east and China having been invaded from there and then eventually crushing that threat. And then the constant struggles in the west against the Poles, Lithuanians, Germans and Swedes ? And disposing of them too so to speak.

This belief that Russia is the mother of all the Slavs, the head of all Orthodoxy is still strong as is a wariness of the West. The language is a branch of Slavonic, much of the culture is rooted in familiar European idioms (to which Russia has contributed enormously) so to all intents and purposes it is European.

Just a little sample of the enormous cultural richness of Russia and that beautiful, stirring anthem (I am able to recite word for word now):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLjSu9U1lEU

[Estreeter]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

It was also how they knew that the Russians had bugged their accomodation and were listening in.

Huh Russians would do that listen in on other conversations, how rude

Oh well, there go my secret plans for me to become the next Czar Pity, palo would have appreciated me

Speaking of palo, I consider him the teacher in this thread, and a good one

So, being the good student I am, I have a question for him, but first, all good students bring a teacher they like an apple too be a suck ........ So here ya go palo, your apples






















My question.....

What is a typical favorite food of Russians, I know Russia is big and it will vary from all the way east too west, but say, what's a typical favorite dinner for a family living St Pete's burg or Moscow

[palo5]

Originally Posted by Estreeter

What is a typical favorite food of Russians, I know Russia is big and it will vary from all the way east too west, but say, what's a typical favorite dinner for a family living St Pete's burg or Moscow

It has changed a lot in the past years, because much more is available. But traditional Russian food is simple -- soups, stews, bread, potatos, onions & other vegetables, meat, fish. It's good and filling. A lot might be leftovers if you cook big pots

I think you'd like some of the vodka varieties. You tried pepper vodka?

[Estreeter]

Originally Posted by palo5

You tried pepper vodka?

Never heard of it I'd like too know more about it As would tabler

[palo5]

Originally Posted by Estreeter

Never heard of it I'd like too know more about it As would tabler

Hehehe!

Something in English must be googlable if you're interested. Maybe there are a few bottles in Australia

[turat]

Originally Posted by palo5

Hehehe!

Something in English must be googlable if you're interested. Maybe there are a few bottles in Australia

Give us your top 2 or 3 Vodka brand choices Palo5. We'll see if we can find it here in the West.

Love Vodka btw. It's clean, easy on the gut and goes well with a lot of mixes if anyone chooses to do so.

Oh yes one more thing. I've heard that Vodka originated in Poland? Is that true?

Frankly, I don't care. If it agrees w/ me, that's important. But would love to know what the "natives" drink. Thanks!

[palo5]

Originally Posted by turat

Give us your top 2 or 3 Vodka brand choices Palo5. We'll see if we can find it here in the West.

Love Vodka btw. It's clean, easy on the gut and goes well with a lot of mixes if anyone chooses to do so.

Oh yes one more thing. I've heard that Vodka originated in Poland? Is that true?

It seems they already make pepper vodka in the West. I didn't know this - maybe I don't go to the alko store often enough

Anyway, check this out. I haven't tried it, but Absolut is a good Swedish brand, and I'll look for a bottle of their pepper vodka

http://www.absolut.com/en/products/absolut-peppar/

No idea who invented vodka. My unscientific instinct tells me it originates from Belarus/Ukraine/Western Russia/Poland long before those states existed, and they all thieved and raped recipes from each other

Another vodka I have a taste for is Koskenkorva. It has a distinct rye flavor, and is made in Finland. No bottle of this lasts longer than 3 days in my home. Unless it's a 3 liter bottle, which might last 7-10 days

[george anson]

Originally Posted by turat

Give us your top 2 or 3 Vodka brand choices Palo5. We'll see if we can find it here in the West.

Love Vodka btw. It's clean, easy on the gut and goes well with a lot of mixes if anyone chooses to do so.

Oh yes one more thing. I've heard that Vodka originated in Poland? Is that true?

Frankly, I don't care. If it agrees w/ me, that's important. But would love to know what the "natives" drink. Thanks!

I have been proffered Sobieski vodka several times (named after the great Polish king Jan Sobieski and his winged hussars) and they claim it as the original vodka made like Kosenkorva from rye. Being a teatotaller I had to refuse. But it's amusing to see people staggering around after a few glasses of it.....

[haroldeye]

There is a restaurant in Kensington called Wodka that sells a whole variety of flavoured vodkas. My favourite is the Strawberry flavour. The food's not bad either.

The best use for vodka though is in Bloody Marys. One of the best drinks known to man, and indeed woman.