Gastronomic Tour: "Russian Cuisine from Tzar's Chambers to Peasant's Izba"

     Russian cuisine – is the huge, multifaceted phenomenon. First of all, because the great Russia stretches across two continents, it covers ten time zones. Moreover, each region has its own taste preferences, the gastronomic features. There are more than 120 nationalities in Russia. National color - one of the highlights of the cuisine of any country.

      However, in our project, we would like to consider another aspect - the social aspect of forming the culinary preferences and characteristics of the various social groups and classes in Russia of XIX century.

      At the heart of our story are the features of characteristic cuisine of three main classes of pre-revolutionary Russia: peasants, nobles and tsars family. We will visit the authentic interiors and taste authentic Russian cuisine. In addition, we will tell you about the cuisine of other classes: merchants, citizens, and clergy.

      Our tour goes across the North-West part of Russia, namely the Leningrad region. We will travel by Kiev highway to the south from St. Petersburg via Gatchina, Luga in the land of lakes, fields and gardens.

      Our gastronomic tour and dive into the olden days of Russia starts from St. Petersburg. The first stop is the Palace of the Emperor Paul I. 

  «Breakfast at the Emperor» - interactive program that ends by traditional tea party. которая заканчивается традиционным чаепитием. "The highlight” of the tzars breakfast will be a real Maltese cake, baked by the old-fashioned recipe.

    As the second stop we will visit the noble estate Rozhdestveno of famous Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov. You will enjoy the rare beauty of the place, unique in its atmosphere of a museum, and an interactive story about the balls, way of life, manners and customs of manors.

     The next stop - “The dinner at the general Lyalin” in the manor of ХVIII century belonging to the hero of the War of 1812 major-general Dmitry Vasilyevich Lyalin. In his manor we will go for a walk along the shady park, we will meet the oldest elm of Leningrad region and over lunch in the general’s dining room, we will not only sample traditional dishes and homemade fruit liqueurs, but also hear an interesting story about the battles, exploits and the glory of Russian weapons.

     As the dessert the different varieties of honeys and drinks from them from the nearest bee-garden will be offered.

    The last stop - «The supper from the Russian stove» in the peasant farmstead. We will continue getting to know peasant cuisine and way of life of the peasants in the farmstead “Zarechye”. We gather around the table for a traditional peasant's dinner, cooked in Russian oven. You can feel yourselves the owners of a peasant's hut; get the pot from the stove, slice of the freshly baked bread, drink a glass of fresh, newly drawn milk. Village izba (house), stable, sheepfold, hayloft, - you can touch the real life of Russian peasant family.

     You will learn what it means to "put the samovar" and "to moonshine (distill)." A Russian scshi (cabbage soup) and bread from the oven, dishes cooked from products from the farm will not leave you unconcerned. A folk ensemble, singing, dancing, accompanies the dinner - you will find unforgettable fun atmosphere of a merry rustic dinner.

     Tired but happy and well-fed, laden with gifts of Russian land, we come back to St. Petersburg.

     The tour can last for two-day, with the staying for the night in the farmstead Zarechye.

     In the morning at dawn at the roosters crowing, you can cook and enjoy a true farmhouse breakfast; beforehand anyone can collect eggs, milk a goat, gather berries and grind a "Russian coffee." The way back to St. Petersburg passes along the shore of the wonderful Cheremenetskoye Lake, through ancient lime and oak alleys. We call on to the functioning men’s Cheremenetsky monastery, which has been here since the fifteenth century. We visit the refectory of the monks and listen to the story of the monastery cuisine.

     Without doubts our culinary journey into the heart of Russia will touch everybody and will stay with you for a long-long time