okay - back to topic of food, yesterday went to russian market in philly on way to flyers game. flyers game big trauma, wife was big flyers fan going to game - got a new bobrovsky jersey there - and the pens spanked them. so people booed. she thinks philly hates russians, blah-blah-blah...
so, she comes home with this dried fish because it is a great snack to have with beer -- NASTY! the whole kitchen stank this morning... and a few other things she hasn't seen in a while. like a kid in a candy store she was. brought home a few bottles of russian beer. when I told her it was non=alcoholic she was puzzled but realized soon enough after carefully reading the label. can't wait for the new ingredients to go to work...
Okay - as long as we ARE off topic and talking about grape things (artificially flavored grape things) let me pass on a little completely unrelated information.
You know how capsaicin (the ingrediaent in chili peppers that creates the unpleasant effect) tastes. Well it turns out that its effect is pretty much common among all mammals. Capsaicin is often miced with bird seed in order to prvent squirrels from eating it. Birds are not effected by capsaicin, but squirrels are.
Well it turns out that there is a similar chemical that is almost like tear gas to birds - but doesn't particularly effect mammals in any way what so ever. And that chemical is "methyl anthranilate" which is usually used to create artificial grape flavoring in the drink used above.
Don't give it to birds. To them its like hot pepper sauce.
Thats my contribution to useless off-the-subject-information for today.
Ivor: On my last trip to Ukraine, on one occasion as I was walking into a place I happened to notice a kiosk out front selling all of the Ukrainian beers. I reached my limit that day as far an annoyance was concerned that the beer from the country I was visiting wasn't available in the restaurant but WAS available just steps from the door. When the waiter gave me the news that again no Ukrainian beer was available, I politely excused myself, went outside to the kiosk, bought a bottle there and brought it back in with me. Damn it, I wanted Ukrainian beer and they wouldn't supply it - I figured I would supply it myself.
When I've travelled I've made it my business to sample local brews and restaurants. It makes to no sense to me to travel far from home and eat at a chain restaurant just like the one down the street or to open a Budweiser.
There's a restaurant in Juarez, Mexico I wish I was at now.
I know that the 'local' beer I tried in Russia was good. I didn't have a clue what it was so I tried a few different varieties. I think only one I didn't like. It was like a domestic American brew. Wife can't stand American beers. But seemingly likes B&J's berry coolers. Also funny that after the flyer's game last night she suggested we go home and get drunk - she rarely drinks. Was absolutely almost in tears that her russian goalie boy gave up four goals. But God Almighty wouldn't have fared much better in that game. Flyers sucked and almost all short handed goals.
She made me a snack for the eagles game. cold and hot smoked trout, smoked meat sausage and a salami all got at market. her excitement of being able to serve her 'own' food is awesome.
There are a few different jars of 'salsa' or sauce that it waiting to be served. OH, and american pickles are the worst. Russian pickles are much better - just wait to find out.
But that nasty salty dried fish - I told her to warn me next time... :)
Filipino's make dried fish, similar to what is is in bags in Yalta grocery stores. Actually, I also found some in the grocery stores in Kiev and Zaporozhye. The Ukrainian version has too much salt. I would marinate that in vinegar. That would add vinegar to the fish and the vinegar will absorb some of the salt. To me, that is good.
You can buy dried whole fish from the train on the brief 15 minute train stops from merchants. To me, that was the only edible thing that was offered in the trains. One big fish cost me 30 hvrivna. Three of us in the train consumed it with a bottle of wine someone else brought. They do have small packaged things, maybe equivalent to our potato chips, but I can take one or two bags of those.
When I used to fly with Ukraine International Airlines, and they'd bring the drinks trolley around, ordering a beer they'd, by course of habit, offer me either of the two international beers they stocked, when I would tell them that I wanted Slavutich they seemed so surprised, so complimented, that I wanted Ukrainian beer I'd ask, and they'd provide, two beers and it wasn't a problem to nip to the galley later during the flight to ask for more.
However I was being a bit crafty, the international beers came in 330ml cans, Slavutich came in 500ml cans hence my primary reason for asking for it!
My gf and I went to a bar in Kiev with a few of her friends. The beer there was the equivalent of about $2.50 USD a glass. They don't come any cheaper there. I didn't see any twelve packs in the grocery stores. She was impressed when I told her the beer here can cost less than $1 each. At Wal Mart, I buy 36 cans for about $25 total.