The Rules When It Comes to Family First
Rule 1 - Eat what y'all want, when you want
Russians are flexible near the time for lunch and dinner, and it varies from family to family, too every bit from individual to individual. Restaurants serve different types of food at any time, which is not the example in other countries such as Italy, for case.
When expecting a guest, Russians are also flexible about the time. If someone is tardily for dinner and so he or she tin can eat alone.
Traditional Russian food served on dining table: homemade pelmeni, vinegret salsd, common cold cuts, pie and pickles / Getty Images
In that location's flexibility not only with arrival but likewise with the order in which dishes are served. A dinner's structure is not strict, although a meal normally includes soup, salad, meat or fish, equally well as a side such every bit rice, potatoes or lapsha (Russian spaghetti), and finally dessert. Nevertheless, yous tin skip any part from this listing, or alter the order.
"I found it very surprising that my Russian relatives, subsequently the main grade and dessert, would chat as they started eating salty things. Information technology was non-finish eating," recalls an Italian man, Nino, almost his experience at a Russian dinner during the week of New year celebrations.
Nino was particularly confused because the gild of courses changed from firm to house, and he could never be certain if, for example, a cutlet should be eaten later on herring-under-fur salad, or before.
Therefore, the main thing that y'all need to know about eating habits in Russia…Forget all the rules!
Rule 2 - Don't eat dry!
Carrot pumpkin cream soup with garlic staff of life / Getty Images
There is, notwithstanding, 1 important unwritten rule during a Russian meal. Many mums say to their kids: "Don't eat dry!" It means that while eating yous should also potable something. The logic behind this is that information technology's easier to launder food down with a liquid and information technology might also aid digestion. So don't be surprised if together with the chief course you get a cup of hot tea! Another option is to add soup to the meal, for case, if y'all have simply a sandwich.
Dominion 3 – Meat and bread are needed to survive
Roasted craven with lettuce and toasts / Getty Images
What's really important is to have meat during luncheon or dinner. Russians usually eat meat every twenty-four hour period, and despite the fact that the number of vegetarians is increasing in the land, it'due south nevertheless not easy to find a centre-aged Russian vegetarian.
"Meat should be included in your daily meal, I couldn't survive without meat for even a single day," said Yura, who does not sympathize the surprise of his High german wife on this issue, likewise every bit Italian colleagues who are happy with a dejeuner composed of lettuce and tomatoes.
The Russian winter, even so, is long and cold and people need a lot of calories to survive. That's why bread is offered together with nigh any dish. Probably that'south because of babyhood hunger, and then every Russian granny will tell you lot that breadstuff is "the head of everything," and volition eat even a watermelon with bread.
Rule iv - Afraid to take hold of a cold? Swallow onions and garlic!
Onions, garlic and shallots to fight cold / Getty Images
What else can assistance survive winters and protect the immune system? "There's an obsession with eating raw onions and garlic with dinner and dejeuner. Russians claim this helps prevent getting a cold. I never tried and I also never got ill," said German/Dutchman, Alex, who worked in Western Siberia for four months. In fact, raw onions are mutual ingredients in Russian salads and there's a tradition of eating a crust of bread with mashed raw garlic on top.
Rule 5 - Dill should be everywhere!
Fresh young potatoes with dill, parsley and garlic - one of Russians' favorite dishes / Legion Media
Do non look to notice varieties of spices in Russian dishes except for maybe black pepper, bay leaf and dill. Every bit a gourmet and food lover, Nino is surprised that Russian cuisine is dominated by onion and black pepper.
"The taste of pelmeni is exactly what you taste when you lot eat kotleta. Many Russian dishes can benefit from the utilize of more spices to enhance different nuances of gustation," said Nino. "Overall, everything is dominated past the taste of mayonnaise."
During her time in Russia, Lara, an American, was irritated by dill. "They just put it everywhere! Every time I enter the stolovaya the only aroma I discerned was dill!"
Rule 6 - When I eat, I'm deaf and dumb
You need continue silence to survive Russian dinner / Getty Images
There's a famous expression that Russian moms tell their kids, "When I eat, I'thousand deaf and dumb." That advice is given for safety reasons: when you're talking and eating y'all tin hands choke.
This might exist the reason why Russians appear anti-social while eating: they've learnt this dominion from childhood. "Information technology seems Russians eat more than for nutrition; a meal is definitely not a social moment if compared with France or Portugal," says Claire who has lived in Russia four months. But if you want to pause the water ice, then bring vodka or tea to the table!
Rule 7 - Tea is a true social moment
Drinking tea is usually a long process / Getty Images
Y'all might accept read many articles about vodka traditions and hospitality in Russia, but tea, not vodka, is the main drink in Russia, and usually served with cookies or cakes. Information technology's a 18-carat social moment when drinking tea together. This is the fourth dimension when the master repast has finished and people are relaxed and start chatting.
Every bit soon every bit you enter any Russian house you'll always be offered tea, and when you lot finish then your cup will be refilled immediately. This is a hospitality gesture; it's like giving knitted socks equally a present - the goal is to make you feel warm inside when information technology'southward cold outside.
Rule viii - Don't assistance your host
A practiced guest is a lazy invitee / Getty Images
A guest is the most important person during dinner, and a host volition always effort to please the invitee as much equally possible.
"People were focused and then much on serving the guests that I felt uncomfortable. Information technology's similar when you lot get to the restaurant, the host serves you lot and does not consume himself," said Nino about his feelings during a Russian dinner.
But why is too much hospitality a reason to complain?
Read more: 7 Russian dishes that you probably don't want to endeavor
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Source: https://www.rbth.com/russian_kitchen/2017/07/21/8-unwritten-rules-when-dining-at-a-russians-home_808312
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