‘A Russian, living in London, writing about Soviet kitsch, sex in food and fat’ – this would be the catchy headliner, the reality of this blog is, I hope, more delicate and complex.
As exuberant M.F.K Fisher once said ‘our three basic needs, for food and security and love are…so mingled and entwined that we cannot straightly think of one without the others’.
…And so, really, I write about the sensualness, warmth, nostalgia and melancholy that food brings…
I shop, I cook, I pour wine, but my blog is less about recipes that you, my dear reader, could follow. Instead I write about the mood and the story of food. I am a student of the Anthropology of Food, and so I want to know what lies underneath, that wobbly, uncertain core. The fleeting smell can take miles and years away; refusing to eat a piece of meat/fruit/bread is never just a fad….
You will see three main themes throughout The Gastronomical Me:
~ I write about obscure foods – innards, forgotten fruits, fat – out of curiosity and stubbornness I suppose. My daily bread is searching out for good, interesting ingredients, producers and suppliers. So I will write about the finds I find that are worth stopping and savouring for.
~ I write about Russian/Soviet food. I am Russian, admittedly a funny, upside down kind of a Russian. Born in Soviet Estonia to a Russian dad and a Ukrainian mother; came of age when Estonia got independent; spent the rest of my life in the Big Old Smoke..I still speak with a hued accent that no one guesses as Russian. Still crave potatoes in mayonnaise and gherkins in brine as comfort food. Can still hold my drink – often vodka these days, always from frozen.
~ I write about the meals enjoyed alone, when ingredients are simply put together on a plate. There are a fair few breakfasts on these pages, as I particularly enjoy this nearly-forgotten art of solitary eating.
Enjoy.
And write to me. The Gastronomical Me is not about me after all.
Email rodnushechka [at] hotmail.com
November 2010
London
Excellent blog. I love the account of the brunch, and would love to join you for a Balto-brunch; in the not too distant past we have Scandinavians on both sides of the family (not to mention just about everything else: Bermondsey in the 1900s was evidently a bit of a melting pot!) and some ancestral appetites emerge in me, a child of the 1960s.
Brilliantly entertaining, full of imagination and beautifully illustrated: a throughly enjoyable read.
thank you for the lovely comment! never knew that Bermondsey was the place to go in search of Balts (Balts??:), so very handy to know – thank you:)
(email me with more details on rodnushechka{at}hotmail.com)
С большим интересом полистала твой бллог,повеяло детством и всякими вкусностями(водку я в детстве тоже почему-то любила,русские гены!)Удачи тебе,Роднушечка, в твоем кулинарном деле.Чем интереснее будешь писать,тем чаще мы будем это читать!
Is there an estonian restaurant in london? I’m really looking for one or a restaurant that serves estonian food in london or near by. thank you
Hi Carlos
I am not aware of any Estonian restaurants per ce (ie advertised as such), however Verru (which I’ve reviewed here) has an Estonian chef. They do classic French dishes with a Baltic twist – a lovely place. Do let me know once and if you’ve been.
Great-great blog. I am glad I found you and your blog as I am truly interested in the food anthropology as well and I am sure I can learn from you a lot.
Dear Marina, so lovely to hear you like my blog! this should encourage me to post more often;)
(if you are based in London, come to my Russian dinners!)