Food I love.. eating or cooking

[ECOCKS]

Yeah all small and runty-looking.

[Sculpto]

Phil I had a couple of brushes with danger on this last trip.. fortunately finding a decent public toilet in StP is not difficult and since there is usually an attendant they are in fact quite clean.  Well.. on and near Nevsky.. who knows how it is elsewhere in the city.  There were also trucks that are toilets in various strategic locations.. had to pay 20r for the service but it was well worth it.. also quite clean and didn't stink too bad.

[Sculpto]

the small potatos are the good ones.  down in mexico.. where the potato originated (peruvians will argue that point but the word potato is Aztec, potatle) they only have the small ones.  The smaller the better the flavor.  In Chiapas if you stick your hand in the dirt you will pull up a potato pretty much everywhere.

[OlgaH]

Yeah all small and runty-looking.

[Rutherford]

Looks like you are into processed foods and carbohydrates.
Potatoes , breads  and so on .       Like my wife  , although  she is slowly learning  about  processed foods  .

I'm taking this more as a the FSU food review section (liked AND disliked):

Pros:

Vareniki (w/ meat, mushrooms or potatoes) and deurney (w/ mushrooms) were my two favorites dinner dishes from the FSU. Of course that's a starch-heavy diet but it makes the most out of scanty helpings of meat and stretches the sweets when used with fruits and jams for desserts.

Speaking of their sweets and pastries, I am more in step with Austria, Italy and Germany, but Napoleans, Smetanik (with raspberries, strawberries or blackberries rather than cherries) and Medovik are right up there with Applie Pie, Red Velvet Cake, Cream Horns and Tiramisu now. If Mama could get here easily I would go into the bakery business.

Cons:

I couldn't stand borscht (not really into beets) although the liquid was sometimes pretty good when used as a marinade/sauce for the meat.

Breakfast in the FSU was an area where they could use serious improvements.  

The salads were neither "tasty" nor appealing in appearance. Not sure why lettuce is so hard to get (must be something in their soil or general ag base that explains the problem) but they seem to have no difficulty switching to western-style salads after relocation.

Potatoes are poor quality and small. Don't quite get why they are not so into baked unless it is because theirs are so small. My wife never understood why I kept asking about them and insisted the pictures I showed her of Idaho bakers were photo-shopped and enlarged. She was visibly surprised when she saw them in restaurants and even more shocked when she saw them in the produce sections of grocery after grocery. Next to salmon, her preferred meals now involve a healthy baked potato with mushrooms, broccoli and cauliflower topped with a dash of olive oil.

I wish they had better grades of flour for baking, I missed biscuits and the pancakes and waffles, even when you could find them, were of uniformly poor quality.

Why is corn meal so rare in the FSU? I would think it would be much more common yet never saw cornbread or cornmeal based battering or dusting on fried foods.

[Sculpto]

fav

[ECOCKS]

Exactly like those. I understand why they don't see how we can make a meal off of one baked potato.

[OlgaH]

Exactly like those. I understand why they don't see how we can make a meal off of one baked potato.

Like this
http://chudo-ogorod.ru/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/kartofel7.jpg
No, we don't have problem in Russia when we buy big potato.

Like in US we have small, medium and big.

[Sculpto]

Like this
http://chudo-ogorod.ru/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/kartofel7.jpg
No, we don't have problem in Russia when we buy big potato.

Like in US we have small, medium and big.

I at a huge baked potato in St P with a bunch of stuff on it.. Miss Kiev was shocked when I ate the skin.

[Boethius]

I agree the baking largely sucked.

The famous Kyivskiy torte could put you in a sugar coma as did several other of their "famous" tortes and pastries. Like so much in the FSU they spent a lot of effort on making it look pretty but the taste left a lot to be desired.

Their ice cream was okay but nothing special.

I have to disagree, again.  But, you have to know where to buy a Kyivsky Torte.  There is only one factory that produces the "real" torte, but there are many imitations.  I have never had as good a dessert as Kyivsky Torte, and I have a sweet tooth.  My second favourite was Pravsky Torte.  I've tried to replicate Kyivsky torte, but can't.  

The best fish I have ever had was at the Leipzig Restaurant in Kyiv (now closed), and the best salads were prepared at a small restaurant outside the centre.  My husband knew the chef there, and he was a master at putting different herbs/flavours together.   I've never tasted anything similar.  People used to come and order 400 g of salad, nothing else.

Sculpto, no one in Ukraine that I know eats potato skins.  My Grandmother never ate them, and my husband still won't, unless they are new boiled potatoes from our garden.  To explain most of the nutrients are found just under the skin is useless.

My husband misses rye bread, and says he hasn't had a decent loaf of rye bread since leaving Ukraine.  He also misses Ukrainian butter, real kefir, and some cheeses that can't be bought here.

[ECOCKS]

Yeah B, we bought them, real ones, and they REALLY sucked. Went by the place that made them dozens of times over the years. I wouldn't take 12 of them for one of babushka's Napole an cakes (or the smetanik or mednovik for that matter). They're the ones I found good. The vast majority of the others were over-carmelized and had the most sugar-rich creme I'd ever encountered. If your taste runs to that, great, pass me the napole an please.

Just like going to the rinoks in Ukraine and around the different stores it was clear that the potatoes are smaller. It also explained why so few places even mentionedEven the chain that sells them has clearly smaller ones. Reading up on them it seems that the water:solid content ratio is a major determinant and areas where they cannot cultivate or water properly apparently produce potatoes more suited to boiling and roasting than baking and frying. That explains some of the things I heard from the McDonald's Director for Ukraine about their problems getting quality potatoes locally. Now it makes a lot more sense and explains why you don't find as many baked potatoes on the menu over there as we do over here.

   

[Sculpto]

I heard from the McDonald's Director for Ukraine

Ed, come on now.. after that comment are we really supposed to take your culinary observations seriously?  I gotta tell you though.. it is really hilarious!  I will laugh all day over that one. 

[Olga_Mouse]

Not sure why lettuce is so hard to get (must be something in their soil or general ag base that explains the problem) but they seem to have no difficulty switching to western-style salads after relocation.

I have a different experience here in Moscow: lettuce or iceberg are easy to get, though to get my favourite rucola I need to go either to Auchan or to Азбука Вкуса - and it costs a fortune!

Other highlights from my yesterday's visit to Auchan:

- vino de tavola, 1 liter, cardboard package, produced for AlCampo, 0.69 EUR in Spain - 119 roubles (3.02 EUR) in Moscow;

- jamon cerano, 100 grams, produced for AlCampo, 0.99 EUR in Spain - 100 roubles (2.54 EUR) in Moscow;

- queso manchego; 350 grams for 3.99 EUR in El Corte Ingles - 286 roubles (7.26 EUR) for 150 grams here.

Seems in Spain even an unemployed on welfare can eat better than a Muscovite with the decent salary...  

[ECOCKS]

Ed, come on now.. after that comment are we really supposed to take your culinary observations seriously?  I gotta tell you though.. it is really hilarious!  I will laugh all day over that one. 

I don't particularly care Eric, after a comment like that you can take them seriously or shove them wher the sun doesn't shine, makes no difference to me.

[Gator]

Seems in Spain even an unemployed on welfare can eat better than a Muscovite with the decent salary... 

Yes; however, smentana has to cost much less in Russia.  What is the annual consumption of sour cream per person in the FSU?  A couple of barrels?

[Olga_Mouse]

Yes; however, smentana has to cost much less in Russia.

Really? And how much it costs in Spain or in A Murrica - if it's available there at all? 200 or 250 grams package?

What is the annual consumption of sour cream per person in the FSU?  A couple of barrels?

No idea - never thought this kind of info might possibly be useful...

But our government (what's that?) thinks it's approx. 2 kilos for adults and 3 kilos for kids and teens:

http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=68814

[Sculpto]

I don't particularly care Eric, after a comment like that you can take them seriously or shove them wher the sun doesn't shine, makes no difference to me.

Aww Ed come on man have a sense of humor.  Really it was funny!  McDonalds complaining about the quality of potatos?   McDonalds typically uses frozen blanched potatos to make their ubber frites so why does your hearsay comment sound so funny to me?  hmm.. dunno..  

But really ED.. all you have done is tell us how terrible Ukrainian food is.. and you don't like anything.. and the potatos are runts.. So.. how about you tell us what kind of food you do like?    That way we have some sort of frame of reference to understand why you have dismissed the cuisine of an entire culture as practically inedible.  

BTW.. I deliberately pick out the smallest potatos when I go to the market.. the small ones have the best flavor.  

[Sculpto]

Really? And how much it costs in Spain or in A Murrica - if it's available there at all? 200 or 250 grams package?

No idea - never considered this information to have some kind of importance...

But our government (what's that?) thinks it's approx. 2 kilos for adults and 3 kilos for kids and teens:

http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=68814

Is this actually the same thing as what you get in Russia?   those 1 qt (slightly less than a liter) containers cost 2-3 dollars..

Olga.. when I was in Moscow and rather frustrated with the lame produce at the Petrovsky store across from my apartment and even more frustrated with Ashan, so, I went out of my way to find a good street bazaar.. the produce their was 25% of the price as in the stores and far higher quality.  In particular I remember becoming quite excited about some strawberries and mushrooms that were both very inexpensive and nice quality. 

Do you shop in the bazaar or is it too dirty for you?  My GF at the time wouldn't set foot in the bazaar.

[possum]

Yes; however, smentana has to cost much less in Russia.  What is the annual consumption of sour cream per person in the FSU?  A couple of barrels?

Sadly, smetana has been widely replaced by cheap mayonnaise for salads and borsch, etc..

[possum]

Is this actually the same thing as what you get in Russia?   those 1 qt (slightly less than a liter) containers cost 2-3 dollars..

Olga.. when I was in Moscow and rather frustrated with the lame produce at the Petrovsky store across from my apartment and even more frustrated with Ashan, so, I went out of my way to find a good street bazaar.. the produce their was 25% of the price as in the stores and far higher quality.  In particular I remember becoming quite excited about some strawberries and mushrooms that were both very inexpensive and nice quality. 

Do you shop in the bazaar or is it too dirty for you?  My GF at the time wouldn't set foot in the bazaar.

No fat sour cream? That's a new one on me.. Good sour cream is 15-25% fat.

The bazaar is THE place for fresh produce and dairy products.. You may think it's beneath you to shop at such a primitive venue, but if you're looking for quality smetana or tvorog, the bazaar is your best bet of finding it..

[Gator]

Really?

No idea - never thought this kind of info might possibly be useful...

Did a putty cat scare you.  You have lost your sense of humor this morning.  RW are sensitive if you make light of the Russian cuisine.  That pride thing.  

Olga, I just find so much of Russian food swimming in mayonaise, sour cream, etc.  Yes, it is a matter of personal tastes and mine doesn't lend to so much dairy fat.  IMO pelmeni is good with sour cream yet better with malt vinegar and maybe a touch of sour cream (made my RW wife roll her eyes).

Speaking of dairy fat, Russian ice cream is superb.  And my ex-wife's kids would not drink American milk for a long time.  Only organic milk.  I did a blind taste test with them, and gave up after they chose organic 6 out of 6.

It seems the bazaar is the equivalent of the American farmers' markets.  Now rare in America  and superb in Russia if you know what you are doing.  Organic berries, etc.  Just like Jamaican weed, no fertilizer mon.

[SANDRO43]

Seems in Spain even an unemployed on welfare can eat better than a Muscovite with the decent salary...  

Is it a wonder that imported food costs more than in its original country ? After all, Spain is not VERY close to Moscow.

And BTW, it's rucola, not ruccola - also called rughetta in the Rome region. Used to be a staple 'salad' for our poorer people there, who could harvest it freely from untended fields and by roadsides where it grew wild and unchecked.

[Sculpto]

Did a putty cat scare you.  You have lost your sense of humor this morning.  RW are sensitive if you make light of the Russian cuisine.  That pride thing.  

Olga, I just find so much of Russian food swimming in mayonaise, sour cream, etc.  Yes, it is a matter of personal tastes and mine doesn't lend to so much dairy fat.  IMO pelmeni is good with sour cream yet better with malt vinegar and maybe a touch of sour cream (made my RW wife roll her eyes).

Speaking of dairy fat, Russian ice cream is superb.  And my ex-wife's kids would not drink American milk for a long time.  Only organic milk.  I did a blind taste test with them, and gave up after they chose organic 6 out of 6.

It seems the bazaar is the equivalent of the American farmers' markets.  Now rare in America  and superb in Russia if you know what you are doing.  Organic berries, etc.  Just like Jamaican weed, no fertilizer mon.

I really liked the ice cream.. not so much as Italian Gelato.. but more than say the overly candy taste of Ben and Jerry.

I can 100% understand the feelings on milk Gator.  I have the same problem.  I got used to having really fresh milk in Mexico.. even sometimes un pasteurized.  And yogurt made from that milk.  The only milk I can drink comes from the Strauss family creamery north of SF which also has by far the best yogurt.  http://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/  In fact.. I am going to go to the store right now and get some.    The thing about their yogurt.. Safeway sells it.. but they sell half quarts for the same price as standard dannon or other commercial brands.. but the local organic grocer that I am going to now sell Strauss for the same price as the dannon.. its weird... but I don't mind going out of my way to gt the better product for a good price.  BTW.. Olga.. a quart of organic yogurt with either maple or vanilla flavor runs $3.85-4.25 dollars. 

Are farmers markets rare in America Gator?  In these parts they are common.  I think there are at least 6 in SF.. different locations.. but one can buy certified organic farm products from farmers every day of the week in SF and of course there is Berkeley Bowl as well.. if you have never been to Berkeley bowl.. if you happen to be coming to the Bay Area I highly advise a visit.. there is no grocery store in the world that can compare to that.  No exaggeration.. really!  http://www.berkeleybowl.com/

Is rucola what we call arugula?

[SANDRO43]

Is rucola what we call arugula?

That's rucola in Spanish , botanic name: Eruca sativa:

[Sculpto]

among other things I just got a nice big ball of mozzarela di bufula to go with the heirloom tomatos I got Sturday at the farmers market.  I had some Mexican queso fresco which was nice but i craved the Mozzarela.

I also decided to try Strauss organic vanila ice cream.. nice flavor but not as creamy as I expected.. will stick with Breyers probably.