Cabbage soup… the Russian staff of life… shchi i kasha, pishcha nasha… kasha and schi, that’s for me! Ask any Russkie about boiled potatoes and stewed prunes… now, THAT’S Lenten!
The Kremlin canteens now offer about 50 fasting dishes, as Lent started on Monday. “The menu varies every day and includes six or seven Lenten dishes, various snacks, vegetable and mushroom soups, and second courses”, Viktor Khrekov, the Presidential administration spokesman, told Interfax-Religion.Visitors can select sour cabbage salad with sweet pepper, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers tossed with a garlic dressing, Russian sour cabbage soup, potato cakes with vegetables and mushrooms, parboiled carrots with green peas, kissel, compotes, and fruit drinks. He said the recipes were worked out by cooks from the Kremliovsky catering complex and approved by Orthodox clerics. “15 to 20 percent of visitors select Lenten dishes. Their popularity is evident”, Mr Khrekov added. He relates that almost the same menu shall be offered at government, State Duma, and Council of Federation catering complexes.
11 March 2008
Interfax-Religion
