Tried Russian Food for the first time

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
11/11/2010 22:35

Really enjoyed it, lots of different dishes where served, and so much of it. We where invited to a party at the Barrel.



It was good to try something different, It was all homemade. Thank You to Alex , Elvina, and all of the Staff.



A big thank you to Cengis, (probably one of the most well liked waiters in TRNC) he really is one hard working very obliging guy.



I beleive they are going to be hosting a Russian food week soon. Good Luck.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
11/11/2010 22:37

And I thought it was just vodka, caviar and bread!



Richard

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
11/11/2010 22:40

Re : Msg 2,



No, Brinsley, it is much much worse .

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
11/11/2010 22:42

Well yes, I had the same thoughts, But i was proved very wrong. (the Vodka came later)



It was a bit like Russian Meze, Then it was finished off with fantastic homemade Birthday cake, and my peice was the size of half a house brick.



But I just had to eat it.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 09:15

What types of food did you eat?

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 09:39

JL. i get to eat it a few times a week all kinds of delicious quite simple foods.



I went to the barrle when it was the other name,and we had there russian menu then,maybe nearly a year ago,it was very good.

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 10:41

No1 Doyen, I will ask Elvina to post the Menu. There was so much.



Zerochlor, prepare to be Scorched, I have made what I reckon is the HOTTEST Chilli sauce ever. Much Hotter than the last lot. I may be down your way today, Put your loo rolls in the Fridge.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 11:40

hi zero,



I know you came to the opening night of the STARDUST BAR but have you eaten at ELEANOR RIGBYS yet?

If you have - what was it like?

If you haven't - why not?

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 11:54

Johhny Lee. I am trying a guess at the ingredient. Is it Napalm ?

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 11:58

re msg 3



Hi Clarissa, 'Russian' food is really a combination of all that was best from the former republics... there is such a diversity I'll assume you were being 'controversial'.. a bit like *wanting* 'Alfonso' to win the F1 driver's championship ? :P



Come on, Mark Webber.. let's have another 'nice guy' win....

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 12:19

Re: Msg 10,



'Russian' food is really a combination of all that was best from the former republics...



mX6,



Well, exactly. If you take the republics out of the equation, Russian cuisine on its own is dreadful.

I visited and worked in Russia - things that people eat there - like slabs of pure fat with raw onions and vodka.

Or the hot fatty brews with chunks of meat and god knows what they call soups and eat every day - rain or sunshine, because they think they will die if they miss one.

Not to mention pies and other stodge.

Please spare me!



Clarissa



P.S. rigsby and I miss you on our F1 panel.

Marisa


Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 545

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 12:54

"If you take the republics out of the equation, Russian cuisine on its own is dreadful."



It is not Russian cuisine dreadfull , but your experience. You never tried real Russian food , but so called a Soviet one.



So do not be too soon in your conclusions.



Unfortunately there is no good Russian restaurant here. Perhaps it will be open one day.



Home made cooking Russian dishes here are all from the Soviet times.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 12:59

Spuds and cabbage.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 13:08

Re : Msg 12,



Marisa, I visited Russia in the post-Soviet era.



And what do you call "real Russian food"?

Marisa


Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 545

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 13:14

Clarissa2, when was it and which restaurants did you eat?

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 16:54

Re : Msg 15,



Two years ago.



I shall leave the review of Moscow restaurants to your husband.

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 17:14

Deputydawq, Zerochlor likes Hot stuff, (you should see his bird) I am awiating his verdict. All natural fresh and no chilli powder, Chilli Powder if it is not cooked well, burns your stomach.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 17:17

lee dont forget me please x

daisy dukes


Joined: 06/09/2008
Posts: 3815

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 17:34

I'm curious...what would be a normal home cooked russian meal.



An example of a starter main and desert would be nice to know.



DD

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 18:03

JohhnyLee. Thanks. I had visions of David doing a "Chemical Ali" and mixing up some sort of Zerochlor salve potion whilst singing "Ring of Fire". I bet he enjoys it !

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 18:08

Lilli how could anyone ever forget you, (we just thought you where hot enough) xx

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 19:42

re msg 11



WHERE is this F1 forum ?!



About Russian cuisine - well Borch is Ukrainian, Plov is Uzbeki, but wifey says:



Pilmeini, Salianka, Aladouski, Blini are Russian .....



I don't know if Caviar is Russian or Azerbaijani, Kazakhstani.. ;)





Any way... *I* quite like the ex-Soviet republic and Russian stuff Veta makes - it's amazing what they do with sour milk .. ;)

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 20:56

JL. the chilli relish you gave me today was veryyyyyy nice,i think it is on par with the pepper sauce i use regular here with alot of my food,its made from habanero peppers and scotch bonnet peppers,so it was a pleasant surprise to taste what you have made at home that had a kick like a mule.



message 8: vaughan, yes i did go on opening night,but i was only able to stay for a hour,i did get a quick look at the menu but was dragged off to some place we had been invited too.

I will make a point of trying the restaurant next week,just seems when winter arrives here,and i get home to some very nice tasty cooked food,i just cant seem to be botherd moving,but i do need to start getting back out alot more,just once im out i dont want to go back home once i get the taste



As for the people talking about russian food or former soviet states food being stodge and shite,i personally think they talking outta there asses.

There is such a wide variety of food from them places,and very good.

TheBarrel


Joined: 21/07/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 21:28

Thank you all for comments.



To answer some of the questions, you can check out our menu here: http://thebarrel.info/barrel/en/



We will be having the opening tomorrow, on Satruday 13th November with live music and dancers.



For reservations call: 0392 444 44 80 or 0533 821 55 55



Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Tootie


Joined: 28/08/2008
Posts: 2037

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 21:35

I'll be giving that a go, looks great!

As most people who know me, I dont eat alot but I will try as much as I can

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 21:44

Interesnoe menu, vse takoe znakomoe

My objazatelno pridem zavtra otvedat!

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 21:46

Re : Msg 26,



Da, znakomoe do boli.

LaptaMike


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 1679

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 21:49

All looks very delic

TheBarrel


Joined: 21/07/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 22:00

Спасибо большое, ждем! Если вы точно приходите, может вам стол зарезервировать? Чтобы всем мест хватило?



Thank you all once again!



Hope you'll like our new dishes as they not only look great, they taste great too!

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 22:04

message 29,

Your spelling is terrible

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 22:10

Spasibo!

Stolik uzhe zarezervirovan!

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 22:13

Message 31

Couldn't agree more

johnty


Joined: 03/06/2008
Posts: 257

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 22:36

what time is the opening please barrel

andre514


Joined: 05/10/2010
Posts: 763

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 22:58

I am impressed with the grub offered in st petersburg, when I visit



most hosts serve something along the lines of a swedish cold table

...cold meats, coleslaw, diced betroot with garlic and mayonnaise,

cream cheese, preserve, yummy cakes



hot dishes may include mini pancakes blini, little pies, and fried fish,

rolled cabbage leaves stuffed with mince, even stuffed pike

and home-made pilmeni: big ravioli with soured cream



there are things that english people may find rather unusual:

baked buckwheat kasha, a brown grain, nutricious with a nutty taste

kefir, a thickly fizzy fermented milk product, perhaps rye bread

brandy or baileys before the meal and vodka with dinner

sausages with a thick plastic film to be removed after simmering

wines that tended to be on the sweet side



tea is strong ceylon you dilute to taste, with home-made jam not sugar,

be careful about asking for milk with it: you may get loads of condensed



from the south: shashlik, pilaf, persimmons

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 23:23

message 19.

DD

Maybe a soup or a cold meat salad,but there are many different delicious russian salads,some made with fish,some with egg,some with beetroot.Again there are to many appertisers to mention.



main course.cabbage leaves with mince and rice mixed together and encased in the cabbage leafs,manti,minced beef with delicate spices encased in a pastry and steamed,but i like them fried also,pelmeni,which is like a small version of the manti,like a ravioli,but boiled not steamed,joint of meat,slow cooked with a mixture of vegitables,very nice,so many main courses to mention.And so many nice main fish courses.



desserts,well ive never had any traditional soviet or former soviet desserts,so if any 1 knows any,can they tell me, maybe some kind of pancake or crepe.

Get in touch with tootie DD,he will be visiting the place,im sure you could tag along



But i shall report my experience of the food i try there tomorrow evening.



Bon appetite folks

TheBarrel


Joined: 21/07/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 23:41

message 33

johnty, the Restaurant opens at 14:00. The Russian menu is on from that time.

The dancers are taking stage at 9:30- 10:00. Live music will start at around 8:30 and after the dancers there will be Russian Disco

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
12/11/2010 23:54

Would you be able to have the boxing on also on any of your TVs,no need for any sound,if would keep me there the whole night?

TheBarrel


Joined: 21/07/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
13/11/2010 00:28

zerochlor, we'll see what we can do about that, but there will be alot of Live entertainment inside

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
13/11/2010 00:32

Its ok,it will not disturb my watching of the boxing,i do not need to hear the commentry,i will be able to understand what is happening.

Will you be able to screen the boxing at around 11.30 to midnight? or do you not have access to the channel?

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
13/11/2010 00:36

All the very best to you for tomorrow, I am somehow going to get to you. Reading all the different ideas for russian foods Im eager to try. Mind you if you taught Lee to make the sauce he brought me tonight, my mouth is still on fire. As he said Im Hot ???????

TheBarrel


Joined: 21/07/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
13/11/2010 11:20

hi zerochlor,

Very sorry about it but there will be no boxing in our restaurant tonight, we'll have the dancing and singing.

TheBarrel


Joined: 21/07/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
13/11/2010 11:23

Hi Lilly,



Thank you very much! We are looking forward to seeing you! With regards to the sauce, I'm not sure if it was our chef who taught Lee the spicy sauce, but Lee's own homemade chilli is really great!

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
13/11/2010 12:48

No the Chilli is my own recepie, I make it for lots of my friends, then they become addicted, and I cant make it quick enough. I gave your chef some, and he asked me for the recepie. (but I am sworn to the curry secret)



The Russian food week, the food is very very good, Our friend tried some last night and the plate didnt need washing,



Good Luck to all you Restauranters out there, working so hard in this very difficult economic climate to bring us all such a wonderful choice of food.



I feel we are very lucky ihn TRNC to have such a variety of Cuisine.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
13/11/2010 13:10

re 43 JL



There loads of choice in Cyprus for ex Soviet republic cuisine - you just have to look a little further 'south' ;)

TheBarrel


Joined: 21/07/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
13/11/2010 16:35

A quick note: There was a misunderstanding and the live music will be on tomorrow. We will have the Russian Rock night tomorrow. Tonight we will have the dancers and the disco. Sorry for any inconveniences caused.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
13/11/2010 20:12

Don't Russians eat a dish made with BEETROOT,can't think what it's called

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
14/11/2010 12:17

Dear Martin,



are you thinking of the Ukrainian dish - Borsch? [борщ] ... aka Borscht, and making other variants



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borscht



http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/borschbeetrootsoup_12298



You need to put in a dollop of Smetana ( Crème fraiche ) to finish it off .. yummy

TheBarrel


Joined: 21/07/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
14/11/2010 18:20

Borsh is in the menu, it wouldn't be Russian Menu, if it was without Borsh! And obviously Smetana or sour cream, is served with most of the dishes!

cyprusharv


Joined: 16/12/2008
Posts: 423

Message Posted:
14/11/2010 20:22

The Barrel- tried to find the menu on your site but doesnt seem to be active yet :((

TheBarrel


Joined: 21/07/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
15/11/2010 12:08

cyprusharv,



The menu is here: http://thebarrel.info/barrel/en/

Try refreshing the page. And some times is might take up to 2-3 minutes for the photos to upload on the menu, it is at the bottom of the page.

cyprusharv


Joined: 16/12/2008
Posts: 423

Message Posted:
17/11/2010 09:49

Thanks for that TheBarrel..............hope it tastes as good as it looks! Only one way to find out........!

TheBarrel


Joined: 21/07/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
17/11/2010 11:30

It does

Looking forward to seeing you there!

apc2010


Joined: 28/07/2010
Posts: 1689

Message Posted:
12/12/2010 00:04

are there any russian food outlets in cyprus ..??

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
12/12/2010 05:52

i just remember having that purple soup (borsche ??) - bleedin' awful...............



i'll stick to me pie and chips like any normal brit.............

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/12/2010 11:52

NN. Some friends had the Beetroot soup, and they loved it. But yes we do love pie and chips. N.N we had the best pie and chips ever, a few weeks ago here in TRNC.



The portion was large everything was homemade. the pie , chips and mushy peas, and thick gravy It really was First class.



At the windows cafe in Girne. I honestly dont see how you could get better.



But I couldn't move after, and felt unwell through eating so much.



So the Moral of the story is I was going to say the Beetroot soup is probably better for you.



But it was my own fault for eating to much. Would I do it again ? yes a.s.a.p.