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• Russian foods you must try
• "Cheers" is not enough when it’s time to propose a toast

Russian foods you must try

A visit to Russia would not be complete without trying traditional foods such as pelmeni little boiled dumpling filled with minced meat, similar to ravioli in Italian cuisine and Wonton in Chineese cooking. Pelmeni belongs to the same family as vareniki (Ukrainian big size dumplings stuffed with mashed potatoes or cottage cheese). You can buy pelmeni in the shops, but it's nothing comparing to home-made version. As pelmeni are kept frozen very well longtime and you can cook them quickly. Eat them with fresh sour cream, bouillon, vinegar, hot sauce, soy sauce or even ketchup or just with butter and dash of salt& pepper.

Other must-try dishes include bliny, borsch (beetroot soup based on meat) and shchi (cabbage soups, which are the best on the second day), which originate from the Ukraine. Zakuski - Cold Table.

Russian ice-creams (in Russian "morozhenoiye") are even better than Italian ones: "Eskimo", "Plombir na palochkie’, "Krem brule" and "Slivochnoje". Please try yourself and let me know.

Buy and try Russian chocolates (food of the gods), believe me Russian chocolate production a competitive to Swiss or Belgium ones: you have plenty to choose: from dark pure chocolate to nut, wafer milk chocolates, such as "Alenushka", "Mishka na severie", "Mishka kosolapy" (Clumsy Bear), "Tryufeli".

INFO: The largest domestic chocolate producers - "Rot-Front" OJSC, "MCF Krasnij Oktiabr (Red October)" OJSC, "Babayevskij" OJSC (all situated in Moscow), and confectionary association "SladKo" consisting of "SladKo" OJSC (Yekaterinburg) and "Konditerskaya fabrica "Volzhanka" (Confectionary Factory "Volzhanka) OJSC (Uljanovsk).

If you have not tried and could not even imagine juice from the birch, then have a try it in Russia. This very refreshing and healthy juice has light color, similar to pea or lychee juice, for example.

Forget about Bud, Heineken or any other well known beer and try a Russian beer "pivo", such as "Baltika" or many others (in regular shop you can find about 40 different brands). For "pivo" ask "vobla", dry and salty fish which is perfect for a beer. Available on sale from kiosks and shops only, you will not find it in restaurants.

INFO: Leader of top-of-mind rating brand "Baltika (Baltic)" along with the other brands of top five in this rating - "Klinskoe" ("SUN Interbrew Ltd."), "Stariy Melnik (Old Miller)" ("Moscow-Efes" Brewery, CJSC) and "Bochkaryev" ("Heineken Brewery" LLC, St Petersburg), keep their leadership also in prompted knowledge rating.

Another delicious food to try "Shashlyki" is prepared of chicken or lamb (or any other meat, from the lamb is the best). You have to let the pieces of meat to marinate in mixture of vinegar and olive oil with onion overnight. Then you grill it on fire on sticks. Usually men do the best "shashlyki" especially from the south regions of Russia.

Other than Vodka, Russians love to drink Kvas-traditionally Russian, non-alcoholic, ancient malt beverage. A perfect thirst quencher for the summer time. Rye Malt is as popular in Russia, as Coke is in America.

"Cheers" is not enough

I have got very fond memories of my first trip to Moscow and, as everyone who listens intently to the rhythm of that city, I cannot imagine not coming back there from time to time to breathe in a "gulp of the air" from between the East and West.

At that time I was hosted by my Russian acquaintances, who invited me one day to a traditional dinner prepared for a group of friends. The occasion for the event was my visit, but those who know Russians' character and their love for parties, also know that almost any occasion is good enough to spend a nice evening with friends.

I still remember my astonishment when the glasses were filled and every guest, one by one, starting from the host, made a toast. Finally, my turn came and I had to say something too so as not to make a boor of myself. Well, you have to open your heart and soul to Russians. It is good to praise the host for their hospitality, express your joy at the meeting and opportunity to meet new people.

Thus, dear guest, if you intend to visit Russia, you should get inspired first in order to become part of that place and win hearts of its dwellers. Browsing websites like "тосты и поздравления" (toasts and greetings), to be found on numerous Russian portals, may prove very helpful in that respect. Mind you that while sitting behind a Polish or Czech table you can simply come out with "cheers", in Russia you should demonstrate greater creativity.