RUSSIAN CUISINE

Socorro Gutierrez429- Cultural Foods

Environment

• Climate: ranges from subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north. Winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia. Summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast.

• Geography: despite its size, lacks soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture. Slightly >1.8 times the size of the US.

• Terrain: broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions

My Special guest lives Here!

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Culture • Major religion: Orthodox Christianity denomination is Russia's largest religion

with 75% of the population. • Tradition: Easter- (April/May) Age old custom is preserved when Easter eggs are

traditionally painted.• Celebration: Weddings: Extravagant, represent the family. Загс (Zags)

• Migration: A number of pacifist sects, such as the Dukhobors and Molokans, settled in California and Oregon, where they maintained their traditional practices—and distinctive music—well into the 21st century. Many Russians went to work in the growing industries of the 19th century, toiling in the mines, mills, and sweatshops.

• Communal feasting is central to marking birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, achievements, significant purchases, and major public holidays.

• The table is laden with salads, appetizers, sausage and cheese, and pickled foods, followed by hot meat, potatoes, and pirozhki (meat or cabbage pies).

• Vodka and wine are drunk throughout the meal, which may last six to ten hours.

During pregnancy• Fresh fruits are eaten infrequently, but cooked fruits are

common desserts. Health benefits are ascribed to many foods. Butter is considered good for eyesight, dill for treating indigestion, and honey* for preventing.

Economical Influence • The mid-1990s government privatization plans were

undermined by corruption, concentrated economic resources in the hands of a well-connected elite rather than effecting true redistribution, significantly.

• Large sectors of the state-owned enterprise system, especially those in energy, transportation, communications, and heavy industry, remained under government control, and by 2005- state re-nationalized ~1/3 of the private oil and gas sector. • 47% of the people preffered state-run economy, rather than a free market.

Economic Factors Influenced food availability • Russian revolution 1917-81 all of USSR was owned by the

government.• Economic and social upheavals of the post socialist

movement impoverished the population.• The bread is the symbol of life. Times of hardship it is the

primary food and being “without bread” signals starvation.• Food shortages and insufficient store management, families

stood in long lines for bread, meat, and basic foods.

• Transportation: Air, bus, car, ferry, taxi, Trans-Mongolian Railway connects Moscow with Beijing.

Russian Food

• Meal patterns: eat 4 meals/day with morning coffee.• Lunch is a small two dish meal lasting from 12-1pm.• Porridge

• Dinner is the most elaborate meal at 6pm, usually 4 courses.• Ranging from few simple appetizers to twenty or more elaborate

creations.• Desert is ice cream or cheese cake hours after meal.• Fourth and final meal is tea cakes.

• Division of labor: family care and nutrition rests with females

Ritual

• Discipline for 40 days- Jesus was in the desert, like like Christ did.

• Many people observe Lenten fasts, at which they consume no meat, butter, or eggs and occasionally do without vodka. Easter provides an opportunity for a fast-breaking celebration with special foods.• A patriarchate of Moscow

нижний новгород (Nizhny Novgorod City)

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Special Guest

• How long have you lived in the City of Nizhy Novogorod?

• What brings you to Chico?• Which traditional main ingredients are difficult to

find in Chico?• Do you have an American favorite meal?• What are some traditional Easter foods?• Which traditional meal do your grandchildren like

for you to cook?

References

• http://www.geographic.org• https://www.cia.gov/library/.../rs.html• Fitzpatrick, Anne Lincoln, The Great Russian Fair: Nizhnii Novgorod, 1840-

90, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Macmillan, in association with St. Antony’s College, Oxford, 1990. ISBN 0-333-42437-9

• http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/polish2.html

• http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Russia.pdf• Riasanovsky, Nicholas V. A History of Russia, 6th ed., 2000.