How to Survive a Russian Meal
If you go to Russia to visit a friend or family member’s home, there is one thing that you will need to know – how to eat a meal with them. There are 2 things that Russians enjoy more than almost everything else: eating and drinking. If you want to keep your hosts happy and survive the experience, there are a couple of things you should know.
Drinking the Night Away
“There is a great and old Russian tradition…” Once a bottle of alcohol is open, those at the table who are drinking must finish it off. If you are a light weight, this may mean that you will be under the table before the bottle is finished. Fortunately, the drinking generally happens after a toast of some sort, and everyone is supposed to give a toast. Some ways to survive this:
Food Matters
You will be sitting at the table for a long time. Even if it is a short time, the best way to keep your hosts happy is to make sure that you eat. However, the Russian equivalent of eating is different from the American version. One giant helping is not the way to do things. Take things slow and steady.
Tea Time
Learn to like tea. Your hosts may offer you coffee, but either way, Russian people get a little perturbed if you do not take tea when it is offered. It doesn’t matter how much you ate or had to drink beforehand; you must drink tea and have some sort of pastry to go with it.
Time to Eat
Meal times are not the slapdash, cram it in your face and head off to do other things time that it has become in America. It is a nice time to be with friends and family. There are conversations, jokes and toasts, lots of toasts. Be prepared to sit for a while and enjoy the bounty on the table.
Want to learn how to cook Russian home cuisine? Check out Russian Kitchen Cooking on YouTube
Drinking the Night Away
“There is a great and old Russian tradition…” Once a bottle of alcohol is open, those at the table who are drinking must finish it off. If you are a light weight, this may mean that you will be under the table before the bottle is finished. Fortunately, the drinking generally happens after a toast of some sort, and everyone is supposed to give a toast. Some ways to survive this:
- It is good etiquette to finish your shot after a toast; however, for the rest of the meal, make sure your glass, in between toasts, isn’t empty. This applies to non-alcoholic beverages, as well.
- Make sure your hosts know that you don’t drink alcohol. If you abstain, your hosts will respect your wishes though they may try to get you to drink anyway. Do not open the gate.
- Eat food and drink water in between shots. It will help a little.
- Build up your tolerance before getting to Russia. (Not an actual recommended way of surviving, but it will work if you start training soon enough.)
Food Matters
You will be sitting at the table for a long time. Even if it is a short time, the best way to keep your hosts happy is to make sure that you eat. However, the Russian equivalent of eating is different from the American version. One giant helping is not the way to do things. Take things slow and steady.
- When you begin, take only half to a third of what you plan on eating. Even if you really like something! Then when they tell you to eat more…
- Take half to a third again.
- Take half to a third again. If you are lucky, you can continue this all night.
- Remember while you are taking food, that there is tea and cookies and cake afterwards. Try to save room. The good news is that the plates are generally smaller than those in America.
Tea Time
Learn to like tea. Your hosts may offer you coffee, but either way, Russian people get a little perturbed if you do not take tea when it is offered. It doesn’t matter how much you ate or had to drink beforehand; you must drink tea and have some sort of pastry to go with it.
- Drink green or black tea at home if you don’t like tea, so that you can acquire a taste for it. Tea is generally taken straight.
- Say “yes” to tea when your host asks you if you would like some.
- Take a couple of cookies or sweets to have with the tea.
Time to Eat
Meal times are not the slapdash, cram it in your face and head off to do other things time that it has become in America. It is a nice time to be with friends and family. There are conversations, jokes and toasts, lots of toasts. Be prepared to sit for a while and enjoy the bounty on the table.
Want to learn how to cook Russian home cuisine? Check out Russian Kitchen Cooking on YouTube