Siberian Cuisine
Thanks to travelling by the Trans-Siberian train you can discover various culinary faces.
Face No 1: The face of pirozhki
Despite the name similar to Polish pierogi, pirozhki are nothing of the kind of Polish pierogi. It is a dish somewhere between a brioche and an ordinary bun. Pirozhki look like a bun but the cake is a yeast cake. While travelling by train you can sample 3 kinds of pirozhki: with potatoes (z kartoshkoj), with meat (s miasom) and with cabbage (s kapustoj). Polish pierogi in Russia are called warieniki.
Face No 2: The face of fish
When the train slowly approaches Baikal, in the compartment you can observe commotion. What is going on? The majority of passengers cannot wait to buy freshly-smoked fish straight from Baikal Lake. Some people prefer fish smoked hot (goriachego kopchenia), whereas the locals very much like it smoked cold (holodnogo kopchenia). A great treasure of Baikal is charus (Siberian grayling). It is a fish of a very delicate meat. Apparently the best charuses can be bought in the neighbourhood of Sludianka.
Face No 3: The face of peanuts
When the train starts to arrive at the railway stations, situated amid Siberian forests, almost everywhere you can buy delicious peanuts. The most colourful point on the peanut route is a railway station Taiga. Peanuts can be bought up to the Chinese- Mongolian border. Merchants sell peanuts in glasses - stakanchikah.
Face No 4: The face of cheburieki
Cheburieki, that is half-closed pancakes-buns with always the same filling which is minced or chopped meat. Good advice: check the freshness.
The Golden Ring
The Golden Ring is a special place in Russia where there are located medieval cities situated to the north and east of Moscow. The region of the Golden Ring tally with historical regions of old Russia: Rus Zaleska and Rus Novogrotska, which formed the bases of shaping of Russian State. In this wonderland are included extraordinary cities with unique historical monuments connected with the Russian history and culture. You can admire genuine example of folk craft. Cities which are included in the Golden Ring are:
- Alexandrov
- Bogolubovo
- Gorohoviec
- Gus Hrustalny
- Ivanovo
- Yaroslav
- Juriev-Polski
- Kalazin
- Kidesha
- Kostroma
- Moscow
- Murom
- Palieh
- Pereslav Zaleski
- Plos
- Pokrov
- Rostov
- Rybinsk
- Siergijev
- Suzdal
- Tutajev
- Uglich
- Vladimir
Tunkinska Valley:
Tunkinska Valley is the western extension of Baikal rift, surrounded with high mountains. Nature around the valley is extremely rich, here you can see wonderful waterfalls, volcanic cones, hot springs and many other eye-catching nature attractions. It is a sacred shamanistic place.
The Chamar Daban Mountains:
The Chamar Daban Mountains is a high mountain range stretched along southern coast of Baikal Lake.
The Sandy Gulf
The Sandy Gulf is called siberian riviera which is famous for the so called rolling pines, sandy beaches and rocky capes.
Yurt
Yurt is a typical, Mongolian house in steppe. Mongolian Nomads during every removal fold and unfold their yurts. They perform it very quickly, as two adult men are able to build a yurt within 2 hours. Guests invited to the yurt are seated on the male side, whereas the housewife with her daughters attend to guests and sit on the female side. If you are invited by the hospitable Mongols to their special house, remember of the following rules: you have to move clockwise, while crossing the yurt's doorstep, you cannot step on it.
Flea markets in Beijing - Panjiayuan
Visiting this market is an amazing experience experience, you can find here literally everything: from red books by leader Mao to jewellery, furniture, pipes, old porcelain or old coins. On the spot you can conduct formalities regarding shipment of items to Poland. Market is open every day it is most occupied on weekends - then there are the majority of merchants and various merchandises.
Culinary attractions in China
China is a real paradise for gourmets, on every street there are pubs, bars, little food stalls. Odours and flavours do not allow to walk peacefully. Traditional Chinese delicacies are little shashliks, pancakes with eggs and vegetables, baked thin breads with meat filling and so on. The biggest culinary attraction of Beijing is the evening market on Dong'anmen Street. Between 5p.m. and 6 p.m. in the market street appear sellers of the most varied food, among others, you can try roast scorpions and fried pierozhki. Whereas on Xiaochijie Street (nearby the market at Dong'anmen Street) we find ourselves in the paradise of little snacks and dishes, we will eat to the fullest, we will satisfy our eyes and noses with extraordinary view, we will have a vast selection of goods and we won't overpay, as we usually do in restaurants.
