I was recently in Sri Lanka. Positively (negatively) lifting with Russian draft dodgers. If all of them now abroad were back in Russia demonstrating, they might force change.
Read this from Nha Trang, Vietnam, a Russian city in all but name. Putin should send his recruiters here when he runs out of cannon fodder, it's where the bulk of his draft dodgers seem to have ended up. Not seen chicken Kyiv on any menus yet, but endless borscht and pelmeni. Shop fronts and menus are all in Vietnamese and Russian, with English, Korean, and Chinese very much in runner up slots.
It's incredibly encouraging when people like you take the trouble to comment. Sitting at a laptop, you never imagine anyone clicking on your link. So when they do, and comment, it revives a sometimes flagging soul to write again, in hope. So, thank you.
300,000 Russians fled right at the start of the war (The Economist). Now it feels there are more Russians of fighting age outside Russia than in. And I'm not including Ukraine.
What a marvelous column! Your experiences in Russia are just fascinating... and excruciating for you! I was a devoted follower of Eat Washington - and got introduced to some terrific markets. I wish we had known each other in DC - but we probably pass one another at Rodman's!
Oh my goodness! We probably did pass in Rodman's! I almost lived there...When the car was traded in after 4 years, it had done 64,000 miles IN THE DC SUBURBS ALONE - probably driving from one ethnic market to another. A wonderful introduction to the food of the world.
I found myself chuckling over this, despite the serious subject-matter. The loo-roll necklace, for example, and the barter chain that began with the vast pink bra, are worthy of a quiet chortle, though it's not so funny to be reduced to such straits. I'm working out how to take the Chicken Kyiv to annual camp for my first night dinner ... And oh, how wonderful to find somebody who does NOT say 'bored of'!
What a wonderful post, Julia!! I was never in Moscow before 1992, and even then, our Russian translators were glad to eat the horrifying purple, canned meat that my colleagues and I passed up in restaurants. And for Mardi Gras, I got.paszcki buns which are made just for one day by our local bakery, im my Wisconsin hometown. Thanks for the mouthwatering travel log.❤️💋
Great stories Julia. I remember bringing avocados and lots of green salad and fresh fruit on my visit to you then, and all of the produce being taken away at the customs. The only escapees were the avocados- what are these said the customs officer!
I was recently in Sri Lanka. Positively (negatively) lifting with Russian draft dodgers. If all of them now abroad were back in Russia demonstrating, they might force change.
I love all your articles, but this one is especially good with your history lesson, sarcasm and recipe.
Thank you for your support - it's really heartwarming.
Maybe your best column ever, which is saying a lot. Thank you for the recipe and the history lesson. Xx
Gosh. Thank you. But not one I wish there had been a reason to write.
This was such a fun post, Jules. Miss u
Much miss suppers on 14th...x
Wow, and here I thought they'd all ended up in Tbilisi! You hear more Russian on the streets now than Georgian, but Ukrainian flags still dominate.
Read this from Nha Trang, Vietnam, a Russian city in all but name. Putin should send his recruiters here when he runs out of cannon fodder, it's where the bulk of his draft dodgers seem to have ended up. Not seen chicken Kyiv on any menus yet, but endless borscht and pelmeni. Shop fronts and menus are all in Vietnamese and Russian, with English, Korean, and Chinese very much in runner up slots.
It's incredibly encouraging when people like you take the trouble to comment. Sitting at a laptop, you never imagine anyone clicking on your link. So when they do, and comment, it revives a sometimes flagging soul to write again, in hope. So, thank you.
Goodness. Thank you so much. It's odd - I woke up suddenly at 3am and wrote it fast. It must have been brewing.
Thank you! I feel quite nostalgic for those days. Rose-coloured with the passage of time.
Really miss you!!
300,000 Russians fled right at the start of the war (The Economist). Now it feels there are more Russians of fighting age outside Russia than in. And I'm not including Ukraine.
What a marvelous column! Your experiences in Russia are just fascinating... and excruciating for you! I was a devoted follower of Eat Washington - and got introduced to some terrific markets. I wish we had known each other in DC - but we probably pass one another at Rodman's!
Oh my goodness! We probably did pass in Rodman's! I almost lived there...When the car was traded in after 4 years, it had done 64,000 miles IN THE DC SUBURBS ALONE - probably driving from one ethnic market to another. A wonderful introduction to the food of the world.
I found myself chuckling over this, despite the serious subject-matter. The loo-roll necklace, for example, and the barter chain that began with the vast pink bra, are worthy of a quiet chortle, though it's not so funny to be reduced to such straits. I'm working out how to take the Chicken Kyiv to annual camp for my first night dinner ... And oh, how wonderful to find somebody who does NOT say 'bored of'!
Grinned over your final comment - and loved the others.
What a wonderful post, Julia!! I was never in Moscow before 1992, and even then, our Russian translators were glad to eat the horrifying purple, canned meat that my colleagues and I passed up in restaurants. And for Mardi Gras, I got.paszcki buns which are made just for one day by our local bakery, im my Wisconsin hometown. Thanks for the mouthwatering travel log.❤️💋
Julia, this is brilliant
Gosh. I'm tickled pink: that you read Tabled, that you approve this one, and that it's YOU! What a smashing re-connection!
Great stories Julia. I remember bringing avocados and lots of green salad and fresh fruit on my visit to you then, and all of the produce being taken away at the customs. The only escapees were the avocados- what are these said the customs officer!
Hahaha! It all would have gone to feed the customs officer. Check my avocado post all about that very thing: https://juliawatson.substack.com/p/smear-avocado-on-your-face-or-make