In my considerable experience (all in the name
of research!), I have found that it is a rare occasion when a Russian will take
a drink in a social setting without first raising his or her glass to make a
toast. And during my early visits
to the former Soviet Union, I would clink glasses and utter the famous phrase that
is still ubiquitous in American films featuring Russians: ‘Na zda-ró-vye!’
(Hа здоровье!). But in
fact, ‘Na zda-ró-vye’ is not precisely
correct. Close, but no cigarski.
Continue reading "Say ‘Za zda-ró-vye!’ not ‘Na zda-ró-vye!’" »
Armed with fresh corn from the farmer's market and this recipe you will become king or queen of the grill. Twenty minutes in the oven will also do the trick. But "King of the Oven" doesn't sound quite as cool.
Continue reading "Vodka Grilled Corn" »
Some of you may know that I'm originally from Beantown, a nickname Boston has held since the eighteenth century when Puritan colonists adapted a Native American recipe of slowly cooking beans inside deerskins with maple sugar and bear fat. This evolved into the recipe of baked beans with salt pork and molasses that came to be known as Boston Baked Beans. Now imagine if those Native Americans had vodka...
Continue reading "Totally Baked Beans" »
Promoted as a cure-all for everything from stomach cramps to depression, insomnia and hang-over, "Erofeitch" is a particularly strong infusion – usually made with 90 proof vodka. I’m not sure it cures anything. But it will probably make you forget what was bothering you.
Legend has it that Erofeitch was named by Czarina Ekaterina II – who was famous for her promiscuity. One of her lovers, Alexei, got very ill. And despite all of Ekaterina’s efforts, no one in her court could find a cure for his sickness. The cure came from a barber, named Erofeitch, who had traveled to China where he learned how to make herb-infused drinks. He managed to cure Alexei with this vodka herb concoction and was generously awarded by Ekaterina. Since then, any strong herb-infused vodka has come to be known by his name.
Continue reading "Russia's most popular vodka remedy: "Erofeitch"" »
I know not everyone loves broccoli as much as I do. But give this hearty soup a try one cold evening with a crusty loaf of bread and these much maligned little cancer-fighting buds might surprise you. Of course, a little vodka makes everything (and everyone) more attractive.
Continue reading "Vodka, Broccoli & Cheddar Soup" »