“She” being my wonderful, beautiful Katie!
Last week was one of my favorite weeks since I’ve been here, since Katie (aka LilVeggiePatch) came for a quick visit. It was really wonderful to be able to “mix” my two lives, and show my old friend my new city. I got to drag her around for 2 days, while we caught up, explored, and tried to find any vegetarian-friendly places in Russia.
On our first afternoon, we set out on a walk to Cafe Margarita, a small restaurant (and nightclub, I believe?) inspired by Bulgakov’s classic, The Master and Margarita (which, if you haven’t read, you should!).
Despite this bright door, we walked by it twice! It was sort of a neat little place, with books lining the walls and a fairly cozy atmosphere; it was also right across from Patriarch’s Pond (where the opening scene of the book takes place), which made it a nice destination.
We both ordered Bizness Lanch (ahem, Business Lunch, a set-price, set-menu meal). We started with a deeelicious vegetable soup.
And I ordered blinchiki with meat–basically pancakes/crepes stuffed with spiced ground beef. Katie ordered blini with cheese. We rocked the pancakes. Who needs IHOP?
We wandered around a bit more, went to the Contemporary Russian History Museum, which is chock-full of old Soviet memorabilia, propaganda, and a stuffed cosmonaut dog. Yeah, the actual dog (not Laika, but another one) was in its spacesuit on display. We may or may not have laughed until the security lady came around the corner to see what was happening…
I dragged Katie all the way down to Domodedovo to meet my students in class. We did a mini-cooking vocab lesson. One of my students claimed that she couldn’t even cook oatmeal, so I knew there would be no better day to talk about food in class than when I had a certain kitchen MVP by my side. We talked about the fun ways we top our oatmeal (here, it is usually with butter and sugar. Maybe jam, but nothing fancier than that), and I think they were duly impressed. I am on a mission to convince the Russians to like peanut butter, and maybe, just maybe Angelika will try it the next time she attempts oatmeal. π
BUT, speaking of my most favorite of …condiments? Spreads? Things I can eat with everything? Katie brought me not one but two jars of peanut butter. Damn, girl, you treat your friends right! (There is peanut butter here, but it is freaking expen$ive! $9 for a jar, and not that great!) I indulged in a nice, big spoonful just because I could:
She brought me a sweet potato, too, but uh… that didn’t work out so well. Somehow, a chunk went missing, and then it got weird on one end. A day later, it was covered in mold! How did that happen? A+ for effort, however.
The next day we met up and went off to the zoo. I have been to the Moscow zoo before, but I had not seen a few of these animals before! Have you ever seen a springhare?
[source]
Cold and hungry, we wandered into the nearest restaurant for lunch, Yolki-Palki. I had a nice hot bowl of goulash.
We decided to head down to the Tret’yakov Gallery, which is supposedly the best museum in Moscow (and one of the finest collections in the world). We had a long walk, but paused for some pictures!
We later met up Katie’s dad, who treated us to dinner. We went to an Italian restaurant in GUM, the old”state department store” (which is now a high fashion shopping mall. Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, etc. Oh, and there’s a Levi’s store π ).
I ordered the handmade spinach ravioli, and let me tell you, these babies were good!
Unfortunately, I had to dash out to catch the train back to Domodedovo, but I had a wonderful time. Thanks again, Papa VeggiePatch!
I am sooo glad that I got to see Katie, and that she had the opportunity to come to Russia. If anyone else is gonna be here, let me know! It’s great to have friends π
Couple of ??s for U!
Is there something that isn’t technically difficult, but near impossible for YOU to make right? I am totally incapable of making my mom’s chocolate fudge frosting, even though there’s nothing to it. I dunno why! My cousin is the laughing stock of our family, because although she’s pretty handy in the kitchen, she always ruins the rice…
What time does is get dark where you live these days? Well, Moscow is not a “bright” city by any means (an hour of sunshine would be awesome!), but it actually starts to get dark around 3-3:30pm. So my sun is setting when it is rising for many of you! (Those of you on the East Coast, basically.) I miss daylight….
GIVEAWAYS!!!
Our favorite Everythingtarian is giving away measuring devices and potholders (oh, baby!)
Maggie wants to share some Amy’s soups and Sahale snacks
The Twins at Pure2Raw are sending one lucky winner a bunch of sweet treats
That springhare! Maybe it’s part of the kangaroo family?
I just laughed again- in my kitchen, alone, at 7AM- about the sweet potato and astrodog. I miss you, sugarbeet.
I’ve never heard of a springhare but they are CUTE!! Glad you and Katie had fun!
1. BROWNIES! Ugh – I can never make them!! Hard on the outside, raw in the center. Boo!
2. Between 5 and 5:30 usually.
Looks like a great visit!! π π And how on earth did she get a sweet potato through customs? …
Well, it’s not impossible for me to make it, but I hate expending the energy on it so they never turn out right… cut-out cookies. I LOATHE rolling out dough.
It gets dark here a little before 4.30. Very depressing. π¦
β€ β€
Oh gosh. 3:30 here too, and that’s England. SO awful! π‘
What a wonderful visit!! That ravioli looks amazing!
My mom’s scalloped potatoes. I’ve watched her make it a million times, but no matter how long I cook it, the potatoes always have a crunch.
My husband cringes when I tell him its on the menu!! π
I live in the NW Chicago suburbs – sadly it gets dark around 3:55! π¦
Happy Friday – or maybe its already Saturday there??!!
YAY! So glad that you’re with Katie π
And blinchiki…I love them so much!!! My grandma makes the best ones π
GAH! Seriously, we all need to be going on fun trip TOGETHER. No more of this separate shit.
how awesome you were able to have a blogger meetup!!!
what a rando spot for an amusement park! those stuffed crepes look incredible. ihop aint got nothinnn on those π have a great weekend!!!
thanks for the sweet comment on my blog!!!!! i am so so jealz you got to kick it with Miss Veggie Patch!!!!! I wish I could have been there!! Someday!! (I have Russian blood and want to be able to visit at some point in my life!!)
happy weekend!!
Who needs IHOP indeed! Oh blintzes! And cheese-filled too! Sounds like the perfect blogger meet-up!
It gets dark here around 5 pm…and it’s LA!
so cool that you got to hang out with Katie and show her the sights π YAAAAY for peanut butter!
Is there something that isnβt technically difficult, but near impossible for YOU to make right? I can’t boil eggs!
What time does is get dark where you live these days? The past couple of days it’s been really foggy so barely gotten light at all π¦ Mosty it gets dark around 4-ish. Boo, winter.
SARAHHHHHH! love that you and miss veggie patch got to hang out – that is awesome. i only wish i could have been there with you too…eating pancakes and seeing fabulous russian art. gahhh, thanks for the multitude of gratuitous pics – they were much appreciated π
ummm its getting dark here in WI at just after 4pm. i hate it. before i know it, it feels like my day is over.
LOVE YA!
hahaha heck yes on the PB. Holy yum of a spoonful. And omg I definitely need to get some pancakes in Russia before I die. They look fabulous. As do the city lights! Gotta love blogger meet ups. π