The foods they made you eat... just once.

[eekee 182]

Stoop is from the dutch "stoep" which means step. First appeared in 1755. http://www.etymonline.com/

Ступня is from ступать, and this root is common across Slavic languages: http://ru.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D1%81%D1%82...%BF%D0%BD%D1%8F Which I imagine has to do with very old roots common across indo-european languages, since step/stoep/stup are all so similar. When it got into the greek part of the entymology I got lost.

[chili74 0]

Hi ! I thought I would have a lot to contribute to this thread, but I like all these food items- caviar and kvas and salted fish.

Ah, well. Not a fan of "kholodets" (I believe it's translated as headcheese/ a chopped meat product in gelatin), though, and neither is my husband.

[AKguy 1]

Not a fan of "kholodets" (I believe it's translated as headcheese/ a chopped meat product in gelatin), though, and neither is my husband.

Oh that just has bad written all over it...

[Brad and Vika 129]

Hi ! I thought I would have a lot to contribute to this thread, but I like all these food items- caviar and kvas and salted fish.

Ah, well. Not a fan of "kholodets" (I believe it's translated as headcheese/ a chopped meat product in gelatin), though, and neither is my husband.

Naturally, jellied meat is another of Vika's favorites. Apparently it is special occasion food. Her mom gave me a HUGE portion at my birthday party last year, and asked Vika several times why I wasn't eating it. I finally said "it isn't my favorite" to many laughs. This is now code between my wife and I. It isn't my favorite=this tastes like kakashka to me.

[slim 1,530]

And stoop is Dutch, which just means "porch." (I used to have a neighbor from The Netherlands and this is one of the useless bits of trivia that sunk in, only to resurface some 10 years later for Slim's benefit. ) There's a lot of cross-pollination between the Netherlands and Russia though, so who knows, you still might be onto something.

Stoop is from the dutch "stoep" which means step. First appeared in 1755. http://www.etymonline.com/

Ступня is from ступать, and this root is common across Slavic languages: http://ru.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D1%81%D1%82...%BF%D0%BD%D1%8F Which I imagine has to do with very old roots common across indo-european languages, since step/stoep/stup are all so similar. When it got into the greek part of the entymology I got lost.

You guys are both awesome! Now it's time for the VJ Russia Forum useless knowledge trivia throwdown.... who's bringing the pie?

One thing I really like about languages is they're not really all that different. Sure, our words are different and the way we use them, etc., but language is language and basic communication is not really that hard. If people would only take the time to sit down and try to communicate..... what a world we'd live in.

It isn't my favorite=this tastes like kakashka to me.

My wife made me try kakashka once too. I didn't like it at first, but once I smothered it in mayo, it's become one of my Russian favorites. I'm not a big fan of American-style kakashka as it tastes more like the bovine variety.

And if you're still reading this, saying to yourself, "what the heck is kakashka? My girl never had me try that." Well, my friends, you're eating a big old kakashka sandwich right now! Cheers!

[Brad and Vika 129]

My wife made me try kakashka once too. I didn't like it at first, but once I smothered it in mayo, it's become one of my Russian favorites. I'm not a big fan of American-style kakashka as it tastes more like the bovine variety.

You should develop a kakashka pie!

[slim 1,530]

You should develop a kakashka pie!

We have one here. It's basically the stuff from chocolate kielbasa before it's formed and frozen. Mmmmm.

[Jonathan Matthies 1]

My first night in Vladivostok, Katya made a wonderful meal of baked salmon topped with shredded carrots, caviar, Oliver's Salad, and calamari. She did not tell me what the calamari was, and I didn't recognize it. The dish looked like linguini, but tasted like um, something. Needless to say I did not care for the calamari; her mother had warned her that many Americans would not care for it. I enjoyed the Caviar, it was really good. I was suprised that I liked it right off the bat.

Katya and her friends all seemed to have this fish jerky thing. It was dried, salted, and cut into 1/4 inch wide strips. Everyone there treated it like we would beef jerky; but I never got used to the taste.

Finally, there was this horrible salted sea fish of some kind. i don't remember the name, but the taste was horrible. No one expected me to like it; and I fulfilled their wishes with gusto. We were at a beach at the time and I'd rather have eaten sand. That dish was the only one I will not give a second chance. I will try calamari again, and the fish strips; but not that devil fish.

[Tnic 5]

Yup, the jellied meat and the fish. "Not one of my favorites".

Fish pie, smoked fish (some I like), salted fish, dried fish (someone gifted me with one at dacha last year and I just smiled and said Spacibo), they turn my stomach. I'll eat fish baked, boiled, broiled, fried, grilled or roasted, but just can't stand even the smell of all those other delicacies. Irina tricked me with some pizza with grilled salmon for breakfast one day and I like that ok. She was very proud that I ate fish pie. I don't like the caviar either, sorry.

Kvass? LOVE Okroshka! And cold Borsch as well as all the varieties of hot borsch I've had. And salanka, most kolbasa and cheese. Sour cucumbers (don't why in the world she just can't call em pickles) and sour or salt cabbage and korean carrot as well as most of the salads I've had the chance to sample.

Ok, Russian cuisine as a whole simply agrees with my palate, with a few exceptions. I'll at least taste something and if I really don't like it everyone understands.

I actually prefer the Russian style pizza (with mayo/cheese sauce) over the tomato sauce now and usually cook it that way now. Throw some moskovskaya and jewish salami, onion and peppers on and forget about leftovers.

Tim

[Brad and Vika 129]

Finally, there was this horrible salted sea fish of some kind. i don't remember the name, but the taste was horrible. No one expected me to like it; and I fulfilled their wishes with gusto. We were at a beach at the time and I'd rather have eaten sand. That dish was the only one I will not give a second chance. I will try calamari again, and the fish strips; but not that devil fish.

Yes, the salty, fishy treats our spouses love! I dread the opening of the salty fish - and duck it when I can. Watching it consumed is no treat either, and I have a fairly strong stomach.

Yup, the jellied meat and the fish. "Not one of my favorites".

I actually prefer the Russian style pizza (with mayo/cheese sauce) over the tomato sauce now and usually cook it that way now. Throw some moskovskaya and jewish salami, onion and peppers on and forget about leftovers.

Tim

I had pizza with mayo and smoked oysters on it. Wasn't the worst thing, but it looked odd.

[baron555 934]

I had pizza with mayo and smoked oysters on it. Wasn't the worst thing, but it looked odd.

I am just sorry and from Chicago. PIZZA just does not have mayo on it.

Luckily when Alla and I ordered a garbage pizza for delivery while in Kiev, we both liked it. It wasn't really bad, for Kiev. Actually quite good!

Most of us here are the men in the relationship. We MUST be the MAN and make our women understand there are just some things you do not mess with.

Next thing they'll be having you put lettuce and tomatoes on White Castles!!!!

[Tnic 5]

Next thing they'll be having you put lettuce and tomatoes on White Castles!!!!

Just don't take the pickles off!! A friend told me years ago that they were the "Stink filters". Take off the filters and those rat burgers would stink up the joint bad.

[AKguy 1]

Oh god I forgot about the fish jerky!... Anna would laugh every time she ate it and tried to kiss me. I humored her and tried it ONCE, it was like eating a long forgotten crusty piece of fishing line in your tackle box.

[chili74 0]

AKguy- )

It's time for KVAS propaganda!

Everyone go buy some kvas at your local Russian store! It is YUM and you won't regret it!!

[Brad and Vika 129]

AKguy- )

It's time for KVAS propaganda!

Everyone go buy some kvas at your local Russian store! It is YUM and you won't regret it!!

Vika tells me that the stuff at the Russian stores here isn't even close to real kvas. She says don't bother.