Moscow Restaurant Teaches Expats Russian New Year Cooking
Ah, the holiday season is upon us! New Year in Russia is all about tradition, food, more food, family, gifts, food, glamour, snow, and toasts to the future. And food. Every year, grandmothers take over Russian kitchens and show how a New Year feast should be done.
But not all of us have knowledgeable Russian babushkas with volumes of recipes who can whip up a real traditional holiday feast in a jiffy. Luckily, Lucien restaurant and its head chef, Artyom Dobrovolsky, are conducting a special English-language New Year cuisine master class on December 8.
Welcoming in the New Year differs across the country, but one element that appears on party tables everywhere is the much-loved "herring under a fur coat" salad (selyodka pod shuboi), and the upcoming master-class will be dedicated to this dish. Another must at every Russian gathering - holiday or no holiday - are hot pies, or pirozhki, filled with whatever hearty ingredients are available.
"For us, gastronomy is a fascinating and creative process, so a few months ago, we decided to start a series of English-language culinary master classes," Dobrovolsky told The Moscow News. "Whoever so desires will have the necessary skills to treat his loved ones and friends to tasty Russian dishes when he returns to his homeland."
The classes ensure that participants fully grasp the details and secrets of Russian cuisine, while tasting premium vodka or casually sipping on tea from an authentic samovar. Dobrovolsky also explains how to choose the best products and how to store them correctly.
The class costs 1,500 rubles per person, which covers all the ingredients as well some fun extras. Kids can come for free. You can sign up by sending an e-mail to
pr@gastronomica.ru.
A special English-language yolka (a traditional Russian New Year celebration for the little ones) is also being organized for mid-December. The children will get to learn about Russian holiday culture with an entertaining program featuring Ded Moroz, Slavic folklore, singing, games and prizes.
After the New Year, Lucien is planning two cooking master classes each month, so if you fancy becoming a real expert in Russian cooking, keep your eyes peeled for new announcements on Lucien's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LucienRest) or on the website (www.lucienrest.ru)
By Maria Stambler, The Moscow News