Vodka. Part №2. Russians don’t drink in silence

I guess, in all countries there exists a certain tradition of what to say while drinking alcohol. In Russia we believe that people who drink without saying a toast are real alcoholic. Vodka doesn’t tolerate rushing.

Vodka is our enemy. But Russians are not afraid of enemies!

 The most known stereotype about Russia is a strange trio:  “white bear, fur-hat and vodka”. And if the first two one can find only in a small part of Russia, the latter is spread all around the country.

Personally I haven’t drunk vodka since I was 16 ( I’m 30 years old now). Once I overestimated my abilities when celebrating New Year Eve with my schoolmates directly in the school-canteen. My schoolmaster even had to call an ambulance to bring me round and to wash out my stomach. My parents were blushed with shame, and for some good reason I was not expelled

Russian soup - Russian soul

soviet poster

In the middle of the 20^th century in Russia Stalin introduced a single rule for all types of state institutions : the dinner of all people should consists of “ first course, second course and a drink”. Popularly known as “first, second and a compote”.

As a rule, the first course is soup, the second course can be meat with  a garnish ( it can be potatoes, pasta or  buckwheat) and at the end you can eat or drink something sweet. “Compote” is a traditional cold drink from boiled dried fruits.  When Russians are abroad it is unusual for them to eat a salad before a soup or a meat-dish. We have it afterwards. 

So this rule of “first, second and compote” has become a national tradition. That’s why Russian people can’t imagine their lives without soup.

All over the country people cook more or less the same kinds of  “first course”. This can vary depending on the region. 

Russian "gastronimic pairs". My TOP-3.

What comes to your mind when someone says, for example, oysters? Let me guess – champagne or white wine? And when someone says “fish” one can continue – “chips”. Coffee and a cigarette , strawberry and cream.