Russian Cuisine

testing this post by email thing

Umm...yeah. So, I wasn't expecting miraculous delights of culinary
rapture from Russian, but some spices would be nice. Or just another
plate of borsch and a piece of black bread with mayonnaise on it in
place of the second course of hot dogs and pasta. Borsch is yummy and
the black bread is surprisingly good with mayonnaise and not so good
by itself. A double helping of the delightful tomato and cucumber
salad and I'm sure my belly will be full. Just please, please, no
more hot dogs.

So, yes, spices. Our babysitter informs me that Russians haven't the
tongues to able spices and are convinced that anything more intense
than black pepper – and perhaps just black pepper – will result in
spontaneous combustion.

But that's okay for I have found my culinary salvation! Shaverma!
Which is sharma in American speak, but I find it easier to pronounce
in Russian. I feel in love with the beefy Al-Rayan version over the
summer in Memphis, but the tasty chicken version served up for 55
rubles (a bit over two dollars) at the stand outside the Metro is
hitting the spot as well. Delightful, subtle use of spice in
delicious tender, greasy chicken flesh. Cool yogurt sauce. Chunks of
cucumber and tomato. All wrapped up in a warm pita ready for munching
on the walk home.

Oh, my friends, this is what fast food should be – so much better than
McDonalds. I'm modifying the suggested business plan, Whitney. I'm
sure we can do both blini and shaverma.

In other food news:

I bought some gummi bears today. How I love them! And they weren't
those nasty German gummi bears. Russian gummi bears are proportioned
differently from American gummi bears. They have bigger heads.

I found Mountain Dew. It's at the American run bar across from the US
Consulate (which, btw, is a very manly shade of pink.) There was much
delighted squealing from your humble narrator. And, it was a glorious
can of Mountain Dew after having abstained for about a month.
Glorious, I tell you, my friends.