MF'S Travels

[gertbysea]

Now comes the Russian dinner.

It all looks very elegant  in this presentation and no doubt delicious but to me something is missing in that I have always imagined Russian cuisine a bit more rustic served in home  made ceramic bowls on a hand made wooden table in a cottage in the woods.  The kids in the school would no doubt never have seen this presentation of a humble cabbage roll .


Vegetable Goluptsi with beetroot sauce.



Is that a serviette ring or a new acquisition from the recent market tour?

[gertbysea]

The inevitable Borcht soup? MF has this to say.

Disappointing as it was more like a consommé with a few cubes of veg rather than a hearty soup with chunks of beef, veg and flavour. This was bland.

[gertbysea]

Porjarsky Koteletti. Mama says


A sort of pork and chicken meatloaf in pastry. Ian enjoyed it




They must  have someone in the galley whose job is just to pipe potatoes.

[gertbysea]

Russian salted herring on potato.

[gertbysea]

This Stolichny salad has quite a history. I have eaten many versions but the original is this.

The exact recipe — particularly that of the dressing — was a jealously guarded secret, but it is known that the salad contained grouse, veal tongue, caviar, lettuce, crayfish tails, capers, and smoked duck, although it is possible that the recipe was varied seasonally.




Where is the dessert MF?

Gert

[gertbysea]

All I want now is a big bowl of caviar sitting in ice and a bottle of vodka standing beside an elegant shot glass.

Gert

[gertbysea]

Still no caviar but here are the desserts. MF says

Sirniki ...Russian curd blini with blueberry sauce.

Notice there is someone in the kitchen also piping out the fake cream!!!




Honey Cake with ice cream and blueberry sauce.

We actually saw locals bringing bucketfuls of blueberries and cranberries onto the ship when we came back from our morning visit to the school and monastery

[gertbysea]

Lunch yesterday.

MF says.    I can't remember the name of this dish but it was escalopes of pork in a spicy paprika style sauce with noodles that looked like 2 different colours of pasta to me. It was very tasty.

[Mama Fergie]

There was caviar at lunch a couple of times Gert so I must take a photo for you as no doubt it will be on the menu again sometime  I don't like the stuff and neither of us like vodka. There was a vodka tasting night in the one of the bars last night but we opted for a bottle of bubbles in the piano bar instead. Wine list excellent and unlimited. We can take bottles to our cabin if we want to be anti social but of course it's much nicer to enjoy with new friends    Also cocktails anytime we want.

[gertbysea]

BWAAAAAAA!   I would be asking for caviar for breakfast  and I would never pass up a vodka tasting. Nope not even for bubbles at the piano bar. Well I would meet you there after.

Looks like you for the food ship with the good food. Friends on mine did the same trip. Bad boat bad food  but ya get what ya pay for eh!

Like I say don't experience life from the cheap seats,

Gert

[gertbysea]

Cruising down the river. No that is night right. You must be cruising up the river.





And you are literally cruising back in time as well as real time ..

[gertbysea]

Logging is big business.





I have seen similar in Tasmania and Canada MF.

[gertbysea]

This would make a good jigsaw puzzle.



Have you seen many animals MF?

[Mama Fergie]

Back in time and up the river Gert. Back in time in more ways than one.
Haven't seen many animals at all not even dogs in the villages and haven't noticed any cats either.
We saw some people walking dogs in Moscow but none in the countryside.

[gertbysea]

Lol. You probably didn't notice but you did capture a gentleman walking a dog in one of your pics in a village