"other" Russian food

[workin4somethin 0]

Voyageur27 wrote: “… … my RW is quite vigilant about bacteria and "microbes". Our shoes are off as soon as we enter from outside and our hands are always scrubbed, else we get an earful. Our puppy is forbidden to go upstairs or to sit on the couch. And, I like it this way! I guess this indicates that all women are different, even from the FSU.”

My Russian wife sounds like yours regarding cleanliness, although she would probably allow a pet to roam and rest where they choose.

silly chick wrote: “Everybody's different. I just get the impression that you guys see something that impresses/annoys you, and right away think that it's a general rule, when, in fact, it may be a rare exception. Workin4somethin, trust me, if I saw somebody doing that to a cake, I would have puked right there, and wouldn't have touched that. My family were (and are) totally obsessed with cleaning, and most people I knew were like that too.”

I’ve visited several cities and households in Russia and other countries.

What I have seen in Russia is an obsession with personal cleanliness for most. I haven’t seen the clutter that I frequently see in the USA.

I have seen things such as double-dipping and finger licking in both countries, as I originally stated. I don’t know whether such actions are common in Russia or in any other country. However, I have seen it a lot in Russia.

I can’t remember the last time I puked, but it wasn’t due to someone touching my prepared food; and, if my Russian wife read this sentence, she would definitely scold me for my rude, filthy and free use of the word puke.”

russ wrote: “In the end here, we are not talking about behavior that will kill anyone.”

Ditto. Thank goodness for individual liberties.

Oregonfiancee wrote: “Does it depend just on people? I am sure it does. There are always people who behave like pigs, in each country. But it doesn't mean that a whole country is like this.

So why you, guys, say such not pleasant things towards a whole Russia? My fiance for example says that I'm thinking too much about how clean things are. And I am Russian. So what??

I just hate when someone has bad experience with things and then makes a comment towards a whole country.”

Wooo-Pig-Sooie, Go Hogs! I’m a Razorback -- what can I say?!

I’m with you, Oregonfiancee.

I can’t eat raw fish or even cooked fish if it still smells like raw fish. However, I love eating cooked frog legs, and my Russian wife thinks they’re the grossest thing.

[russ 1]

I can't eat raw fish or even cooked fish if it still smells like raw fish.

I don't eat cooked fish. Or steak. I like it bleeding.

It took my wife about 2 weeks to decide that bleeding-mooing-blood red Prime Rib at the Palm is god's gift to mankind. (even better with good wine and creamed spinach).

(I don't think it is just to please me - she goes out to have it by herself )

[Galina 0]

It's somehow strange to hear that it is usual in Russia to do "double-dipping and touching of food". And knife licking. Very strange to hear it really. If workin4somethin had it in the family of his fiancee, it doesn't mean that it is general for a whole Russia.

You maybe surprised, but on russian forum (where russian women discuss their life in US with their American husbands and step-children) women say that they are shocked how their American step-children behave. They say that American children behave as pigs - they don't like to clean hands before eating, don't to wash faces in the mornings, don't clean their rooms, throw toilet paper on the floor, etc. Also women are shocked how Americans eat - noisy, not pleasant, and doing some not pleasant things while eating. That's what many russian women say. And WHAT? And after reading this I should start to think that ALL American people do it? That a whole country is like this??

What irritates me most of all about American teenagers is the following: they have no problem about jumping in bed in shoes or everything they have just worn in the street, all their clothing! This is million times worse than knife-licking! And this nation will try to show off about the hygine? This is just ridiculous!

[dmhweb 0]

These things are really just "Custom & Practice" of different cultures and have nothing to do with cleanliness. It sometimes bothers me to have to remove my shoes every time I enter someone’s home. This really has nothing to do with being hygienic or clean. I can see if I have muddy or wet shoes, then yes I would remove them but just from walking outside, that is silly. This is a cultural difference that is not widely practiced in the USA. I do remove my shoes in the evening but that is more for comfort than for keeping my floor clean! Sweaty feet, I'm sure, have much more bacteria growth than the soles of my shoes. I have noticed that the streets in Russia do tend to be dirtier (soil & rocks etc.) than those I see here in the US.

As far as personal hygiene, daily bathing is a fairly modern creation promoted by the plumbing industry (bathtub manufacturers) and the soap companies so they can make more money! If you bathe every day you use more soap!

There are much more serious germs out there than those we might carry on our shoes, clothing, or in our mouth's for that matter (what about French kissing!). For an idea of what to really worry about and a good reason to wash your hands often (especially before and after preparing raw foods) see the Bad Bug Book. A little dirt won’t hurt you but some of these bugs certainly will (if you survive them!).

Cheers!