What kind of food do Americans like to buy in Russian stores

Alexandra, who went to Harvard with her two daughters for her husband, decided to tell in her blog Between New York and Boston about what Americans choose in Russian stores.

Фото: Depositphotos

There is a small restaurant near a Russian store not far from us, and if we want to replenish our stock of products that cannot be found in American supermarkets, or want to grab something homemade, we stop there.

Today I dropped by the guys for buckwheat and seeds and stood in line for an American who energetically dictated a list of what she wanted to buy, apparently familiar with the assortment. It became interesting to me and when my turn came, I got into conversation with the hostess: what do the Americans take in our stores? So, the most popular among Americans are the positions of our shop and restaurant.

Kelbasa

Фото: Depositphotos

Yes, yes, exactly kelbasa. This is what the American woman who stood in line in front of me took. The “Kelbasa” she took was a ring of dried-smoked sausage. Meat is a universal product and, I am sure, those who love it are happy to try products made from it, prepared according to the traditions of other nations. Well, even more so if it’s our delicious sausage!

As you understand, “kelbasa” is not a Russian name, although it is very similar to ours. It's actually Polish. I cannot say how much the average American distinguishes between East Slavic cultures: Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Polish, but I would guess that not much. That’s why they call the sausage “kelbasa” without much fuss. It’s interesting that the sellers don’t correct them, but write them in English. If the buyer is accustomed to such a name, so be it. If only they paid money.

Borscht

The most famous “our” first dish among Americans is, of course, borscht. By the way, soup is considered a winter dish among Americans. Well, why would anyone eat a plate of hot stew in the summer, dropping drops of sweat from their forehead into it? — an American friend told me in surprise when I was still in my homeland. Considering that Americans, even in winter, consume liquids exclusively with ice, I am not surprised by this attitude towards soups.

And for an American, borscht is a wonderful, thick, warming, hearty Russian winter soup. The winters—how cold and long they have there in Russia, they apparently think—so Russians eat hot, red, rich stew with meat almost all year round. They also add sour cream to make it even richer - just to keep it warm.

Draniki

The love for our potato pancakes (deruns, potato pancakes) among Americans is, in principle, quite understandable. Well, first of all, America is the birthplace of this world-famous root vegetable, and any products made from potatoes are perceived with great understanding here. The fact that French fries are a mandatory attribute of the most popular American fast food already says a lot.

Фото: Depositphotos

And secondly, the method of preparing our potato pancakes is not alien here: something similar is prepared in the States. Hash browns - consider our potato pancakes. There are also tater tots. They are deep-fried, not in a frying pan, like pancakes, and have a round shape, not flat. Tater Tots are often included in school menus, which is why Americans are familiar with them from childhood. Do you want to introduce Americans to our cuisine as comfortably as possible? Start with hash browns.

cheesecakes

The fact that Americans like our cheesecakes should also not surprise anyone, even though cottage cheese is not sold in American stores. After all, cheesecake (translated as “cheese pie”) is one of America’s favorite desserts. Everyone probably knows New York cheesecake, but in fact this dessert has as many recipes as there are regions in the United States.

Фото: Depositphotos

Cheese cakes in our store you can eat on the spot with tea or coffee, and you can order with you: they are delicious, both hot and cold. By the way, I worry about the absence of cottage cheese on sale in US stores: I make cottage cheese myself. It is always fresh, tasty, healthy and it makes wonderful cheesecakes, which I water with condensed milk and call “our national cheesecake”

Perogi

Perogi (with the emphasis on the second syllable) is another of our dishes, known among Americans by its Polish name. And these are absolutely not our pies, as you might think. These are dumplings! Stuffing dough with filling and boiling it is not a new idea. In the same Chinese restaurants that are everywhere in the United States, you can buy dumplings - dumplings with meat. But dough filled with potatoes or cabbage is very original for Americans!

Фото: Depositphotos

In my family, my grandmother always made dumplings, and in the states this tradition also continues. Very often in our churches in the United States, parishioners, mostly women and mostly elderly, gather to make “perogies” before the holidays. Firstly, this is a great reason to sit together, chat and “rubber the bones of friends,” and secondly, this is a good way to make money by then selling perogies to Americans, who gobble them up on both cheeks. Only they need to be cooked and frozen before selling - an American wouldn’t cook raw dough!

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