Best Guide to Russian Culture & Food Seeking

There is no Russia without vodka. It is the most popular alcohol in Russia. It is a clear, distilled liquid. The term vodka is Russian means little water. There are a lot of varieties of Russian vodka like Standard Gold, and Beluga Noble.

There are more than a hundred minority languages, although the majority of people speak Russian. Religion has always been an integral part of Russian culture. Onion domes painted with different colors that you see all around Russia symbolizes vaults to heaven and represents the Holy Trinity. Russian food encompasses a wide variety of cuisines from different traditions of Russian people. It is influenced by Caucasian, Siberian, Eastern European, Central Asian, and East Asian food styles. The foundation of the majority of popular Russian dishes stems from the peasant food that the rural population made in harsh climates. Whatever be the history, there no denying the fact that Russian cuisine is one of the tastiest in the world.

Russian food is very diverse. Pagan foods and culinary practices, the rise of Christianity, and the changes it brought, the growth of Communism- a lot of historical and cultural transformations affected the development of Russian cuisine. Many Russian dishes originated due to the need to preserve leftovers. Other dishes were made exclusively for special religious rituals like Russian Pierogi. Some of the most famous Traditional Russian food is:

Borscht is the most famous Russian dish in the USA. It is often wrongly identified by a lot of people as just beetroot soup. But Borscht is much more than that. Borscht is a traditional Russian staple dish made with meat and vegetables. The vegetables used in preparing Borscht are carrots, onions, cabbage, garlic, and beetroot. Borscht boasts its origins from Ukraine.

Pelmeni is a Russian food similar to Italian ravioli. It is a staple diet of people in Ural and Siberian Parts of Russia. It appeared in Russian cooking around the Fourteenth century, but by the nineteenth century, it was being used through the country. The origins of Pelmeni can be traced back to China. Russians learned the secrets of Pelmeni preparation from the Komi people of the Ural region.

Blinis is a Russian food whose roots can be traced back to Slavic traditions. Blinis represent the sun god. They are prepared during the week of the religious holiday of the Great Lent. Blinis is a popular dish throughout Eastern Europe.

Pierogi is a Russian delicacy served only during special occasions to welcome guests. Pierogi in Russian means feast. Different types of Pierogi are made for different times. Pierogi made from cabbages are usually served during Name day. During Christening, sourdough Pierogi is made. Coins are hidden inside Pierogi to symbolize luck.

Pirozhki is a smaller form of Pierogi. Pirozhki is easier to make than Pierogi and is sometimes baked or fried. The dish is usually filled on the inside with meat, apple, and potato.

Vareniki is a dish from Ukraine. It is famous in Russian regions near Ukraine, like the Kuban. Vareniki are flour dumplings filled with sweet vegetables. Vareniki is very similar to the Turkish dish dush-vara. The popular variety of Vareniki is those filled with cherry or strawberry.

Ukha is a traditional Russian soup. It is primarily made from fish. Ukha classically uses fresh fish, which are stocky, delicate, and sweet. The most common types of fishes used are bass, ruffle, and whitefish. Ukha is usually cooked in a pot made from clay or enamel. After boiling for some time, the soup becomes sticky and transparent. The fish remains soft, juicy, and tender.

There are a lot of Russian restaurants in the USA serving authentic Russian food. Some of them are:

Mari Vanna is a Russian restaurant situated on the busy street in Manhattan's Flatiron area. It is an archetypal Russian construction filled with chandeliers, dolls, and old photographs. Old Russian music will supply you with a melancholy feeling. It is one of the classical Russian restaurant NYC.

* The exact location of the hotel is:

41 E 20th St

New York, NY 10003

* You can dial Mari Vanna at (212) 777-1955

* The Russian restaurant’s website is Marianna.ny

* The restaurant is open every single day of the week. It is open from 12 PM to 11:30 PM.

Mari Vanna serves many Russian classical dishes like Borscht – a traditional Beet soup. The Beef Stroganoff, along with old-style Grechnaya Kasha, is another delicacy served here. You can also enjoy some unforgettable Bini and homemade jams here. The house-infused vodkas served in Mari Vanna are quite famous in the area. The vodka is made in different flavors of radish, pear, vanilla, and garlic. A variety of salads and soups are also served here.

Masha and the Bear is a classic Russian restaurant in New York. The leading chef in the restaurant is Anya Vasilenko from Ukraine. The name of the restaurant came from an old Russian folktale involving a girl who got lost in the wood. The restaurant is wheelchair friendly and offers excellent parking facilities. The restrooms in the Russian restaurant are spacious and well equipped. This is the Russian restaurant NYC to visit to relax and enjoy some good food.

* You can visit Masha and the Bear in the address:

771 Grand St

Brooklyn, NY 11211

* The contact number of the restaurant is: (718) 384-5000

* The hotel website is: mashaandthebear.nyc

* The hotel opens every day except Monday. The working hours are from 1:00 PM to 1:00 AM.

Masha and the Bear serve authentic Russian cuisine with house-infused vodka and cocktails. They offer Russian lunch and dinner dishes like soups, desserts, and appetizers. Salmon Fillet Smoked over Wood, Siberian-style pelmeni dumplings filled with beef and pork, Golubtzi, Chicken Tanaka, Pirozhok Pie stuffed with salmon or onion and egg, Beef Stroganoff and Bugs Bunn are the specials served here.

Robert’s Russian Cuisine is a traditional Russian restaurant which offers some of the best authentic Russian experience in the country. Their motto is “Delicious food and great atmosphere.” All the food served is made from whole, unprocessed ingredients. A lot of parking places are found nearby the hotel. The hotel provides free WIFI.

* The address is:

603 N La Brea Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90028

* You can contact the hotel by dialing: (323) 851-4202

* The website of the Russian restaurant is: robertsrussiancuisine.com

* The Russian restaurant is open from 12 PM to 10 PM every day except Monday. On Sunday, the working time is from 12 PM to 9 PM.

Robert’s Russian Cuisine serves appetizers, soups, salads, poultry, beef, pork, and seafood. The appetizers you can get here are Eggplant Caviar, Hummus, Marinated, Pickled Vegetables, Red Caviar, and many more. Ukrainian Borsch, Mushroom Chicken Broth, and Kharcho are the soups served here. If you are interested in salads, you can find Olivier Salad, Vinegret Salad, Armenian Salad, Crab Salad, and a lot of other varieties here. Chicken Shish Kabob, Chicken A-La Moscow, Chicken Stroganoff, Lamb Chops, Beef Stroganoff, Pork Shish Kabob, and many more non-vegetarian cuisines are also served here.

Lezzet Café is a family run business in San Diego. It is really spacious and beautifully decorated restaurant. A lot of parking sites are available near the Russian restaurant. It offers some excellent Russian cuisine at affordable rates. Lezzet Café does not serve pork due to religious reasons.

* The exact address of the Russian restaurant is:

3586 Main St

San Diego, CA 92113

* To contact Lezzet Café, dial (619) 756-7997

* The hotel opens every day except for Tuesday. The working hours are from 11 AM to 9 PM.

Lezzet Café serves a wide variety of Russian dishes, including salads, pasta, gozleme, and kebabs. All the food items you can get here are below 30 dollars. It is one of the best affordable Russian restaurants in the neighborhood. Homemade pasta with toppings of chicken, beef, lamb, and shrimp are provided to customers. Steamed Manti with caramelize onion is a Lezzet Café special. You can enjoy traditional Turkish Gozleme made of beef, cheese, or lamp here.

Wholly, Crepe is a woman-owned and operated Russian restaurant located in Tomball. They specialize in serving a lot of homemade Russian dishes. They are vegetarian-friendly and provide casual dining services. Parking is available at the back of the restaurant.

* The address of the hotel is:

413 W Main St

Tomball, TX 77375

* The contact number is: (832) 993-9791

* The website of the restaurant is: whollycrepe.net

* The hotel opens every day at 9 AM and closes at 8 PM On Sunday, it is open from 11 AM to 3 PM.

The Russian restaurant was established in 2015. Chef Emiliya Hendrix founded it. She designs every recipe. Emiliya is originally from the Siberian region of Russia. She learned cooking there. She started the restaurant with her husband, Bill Hendrix.

The menu in Wholly Crepe is one hundred percent homemade. Every food item is made from scratch under close monitoring of Chef Emiliya Hendrix. The Russian restaurant serves keto, gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegetarian options on request. Wholly Crepe serves lunch specials from Monday to Friday. You can grab a bite of these specials from 11:30 AM to 2 PM.

* Monday- Bigos is the unique food item served on Monday. It is a stew made from Polish Sausage and Sauerkraut. Mashed potatoes, a small salad, and are given as side dishes.

* Tuesday- Grilled Chicken Crepe, filled with chicken, cheese, spinach, and mushrooms will be ready for you on Tuesday.

* Wednesday – Angus beef seasoned with Paprika is the Wednesday special.

* Thursday – Made from tender boneless chicken and seasoned with black pepper, Thursday is made exclusive with Chicken noodle soup.

* Friday – The most popular dish of the restaurant- Beef Stroganoff is served during Fridays. It is made with slowly simmered beef and fresh mushrooms.

Along with these specials, Wholly Crepe serves desserts like Baklava, Pavlova, Medovik, Crepes filled with berries, homemade whipped cream, and Nutella.

Many Russian traditional food items originated due to the specific situation Russian people had to face. Russia is infamous for its extreme winters. Due to these chilling winters that sometimes lasted a lot of months, a lot of methods were advocated to prepare winter food in advance during summer. It gave rise to a wide variety of food items like soups from leftover food, salted or smoked meat and fish, and various preserves. These preserved foods are an essential part of Russian delicacies.

Russian food is as vast and diverse as Mother Russia itself. Through thousands of years of survival, Russian people have defined and redefined their dining habits. This evolution and years of experience have presented before the world cuisine that is appetizing and heart-warming. You might like or dislike Russia politically, but Russian food is worth tasting. Visit an authentic Russian restaurant near you and have some warm plate of stroganoff with vodka. Stay hungry.