Feb 23

It's Defender of the Fatherland Day in Russia! Rejoice!

On a more fun note, I went to my favourite-of-all-times restaurant for my birthday - Gaslight Brasserie du Coin in Boston.

Where we proceeded to take very silly pictures of eating dessert...

Foodies of my mind, unite...

I've been trying to go to the local Russian store more often, as they carry the most interesting foods sometimes. Behold, a full meal that would not be out of place in Tomsk:




We have: toasted matnakash (which I always call "lavash" because that's what we called it in Siberia when we were little, even though true lavash is totally different, and is more like a tortilla.)

With that we have some cold cuts of ham and salami (the Russian store has nearly 20 varieties of sausages and as many types of ham), topped with some awesome Armenian brynza (it's sort of a feta cheeze, but not to be confused with Slovak bryndza from the Wiki article) - just the right degree of salty.



On the side there is a Russian version of sauerkraut (which was too fresh, and inspired me to make some of my own - proper pickled cabbage needs to be more limp and, well, pickly) and my favourite salad of all times - Olivier



Ahh, and that green drink the colour of a chemistry experiment? That would be my favourite soda, Tarhun. The green is, of course, food colouring, but the drink IS actually flavoured with tarragon.

I have to admit that the meal as a whole would be incomplete by strict Russian standards, as it consists only of zakuski without the requisite first course (soup), hot course (meat or fish) or dessert (well, we had dessert, I just didn't take any pictures of it.)

In fact, the meal as it was laid out would have been perfect accompaniment to a bottle of vodka, as tradition dictates. Too bad I don't drink vodka (I know, what a bad Russian) and can't justify a full holiday meal on a Thursday:)

New Cambridge One!!!

This is an item for the two of you who read this blog who are actually FROM Boston:

The main reasons I EVER go to Harvard Square are OM and Cambridge*1. Now there is one less reason, as I just discovered a brand new Cambridge*1 on the bottom floor of the Trilogy Building (across from Landmark center.) Like, they were installing the awnings as I drove by, and sitting in traffic I could see that the decor is the same, and I am assuming the menu is the same - I am going to check it out ASAP. This in addition to Harry Potter coming to my door tomorrow morning makes me a very happy girl indeed!