Culture & Customs

A look at the cats that guard one of the world's great museums.

Time to bring in the cabbage, and put it in a tasty pie! This column offers a great recipe for a kapustnik (cabbage pie), plus offers a look back at the origin of Russian bees - gatherings for communal labor.

A look at the astonishing rise in cell phone use in Russia. One report indicates that over 60% of Russians now have cell phones, versus just 25% two years ago.

Yelena Ivanovna Molokhovets was the author of Russia's most famous cookbook, A Gift to Young Housewives, first published in 1861. Here is a warm duck soup from her book, plus a bit of history on this important tome.

A look at Russian fast food over the past century, in honor of our story on the Moscow Metro. The recipe is for toasted sunflower seeds.

Examination of the history of this Christian tradition, which is in full communion with the Church of Rome.

Where we go in search of true Tatar cuisine. The recipe is for the savory dish, peremech.

A short look at the history of fare aboard the Trans-Siberian railway, with a recipe for pelmeny you can prepare between stops...

Why is it that Russians don't answer email? We explore this conundrum, and whether it has some roots in Russian business or personal culture.

Russians have a special bond with mushrooms that is not paralleled in the West. In this issue, a special recipe for mushroom-stuffed eggs.

Veggie-burgers have a Russian antecedent. We give the recipe, plus some interesting cultural history on cookbooks.

A color-coded map of the US, showing which states have the highest percentage of Russian immigrants.