Why would I want to take Russian cooking lessons?

Many Americans have at least one grandparent or great-grandparent who immigrated from Russia or one of the adjacent Eastern European countries that were a part of the Russian Empire or the former Soviet Union at one time or another. Learning to cook Russian food will help you gain an insight into what your ancestors may have had for dinner in their home country. Or maybe you have traveled to Russia and tasted some foods that you really liked. Taking Russian cooking lessons will enable you to re-create those dishes in your own kitchen.

Perhaps you have adopted a child from Russia or are considering a Russian adoption. Learning to cook Russian dishes is a great way to preserve your child’s cultural heritage. Additionally, having familiar foods to eat will be very comforting for your child during those first few months at home and can make the transition easier on everyone. If your child is of elementary school age or older, consider lessons for the whole family. Cooking with your kids promotes bonding and helps instill those healthy eating habits early on!

Is it hard to cook Russian food?

Russian dishes vary widely in terms of the number of steps involved and the length of time they take to prepare, but I believe that with practice, persistence, and knowledge of some cooking tips and tricks, anyone can learn to make them. Of course, just as with any other cuisine, how quickly you become an expert Russian chef will depend on your comfort level in the kitchen prior to the start of our lessons. If you need some training with basic prepping or cooking techniques, please don’t be shy and let me know! I’d be more than happy to go over these topics with you.

Don’t you need special ingredients that you can’t get in this country?

Not at all! You can purchase virtually all the necessary ingredients at a regular American supermarket. You may need to look in the ethnic foods isle or visit your local health food store for certain other items. There are also many Russian grocery stores in the Seattle area that offer authentic Russian bread, smoked meats and fish, beverages, and sweets.

Isn’t Russian food really heavy and bad for you?

When it comes to food {drink is a different story :-) }, Russians are firm believers in the principle, ‘everything in moderation.’ It’s true that some Russian dishes include rich ingredients such as sour cream, butter, or mayonnaise, while others go heavy on carbohydrates. However, because Russian meals usually consist of several courses, you are likely to eat a little bit of everything and consume a more balanced and wholesome meal than if you were to eat just one super-sized entree. For example, before indulging in, say, the beef stroganoff in that sinfully rich sour cream sauce, you might have a bowl of light and nutritious soup, a fresh vegetable salad, and some bread, so you won’t be as hungry when the main dish comes along and will probably eat a reasonable portion. All year round, Russian cooks make ample use of seasonal vegetables, herbs, fruit, and berries to create flavorful and healthy soups, stews, salads, desserts, and other dishes.

How did you learn to cook?

In Russia, most people eat out only on special occasions, and prepared foods are expensive, not always available, and often just do not taste that great. As in many cultures, in Russian households the kitchen is traditionally a woman’s realm, so virtually every Russian woman learns to cook – and becomes a real pro at it, because she has to do it every day!

I learned to cook from two of the best teachers and chefs in the world: my mother and grandmother. Although my grandmother is now in her mid-80’s and no longer cooks, she is still a source of good cheer and great stories, many of which involve food. My mom continues to create amazingly delicious concoctions in her Los Angeles kitchen and enjoys supplementing her repertoire of Russian recipes with new influences drawn from LA’s multicultural community and from her favorite cooking shows.