Culture & Customs

One version of Russian blackbread, a mainstay of the traditional diet.

Find out what the traditional Russian mealtime fare is.

Buckwheat bliny are a must in the springtime. Here we offer a tasty recipe worthy of Gogol.

Our trek east across Siberia takes us to Russia's fourth largest city--an industrial powerhouse with some surprises in its environs.

Tea was brought to Russia in the 1600s from China. Since then, the brew and its implements have become an enduring tradition of Russian society. The tea ceremony itself bonds families and communities

The origin of the Rurik Dynasty and introduction of the Orthodox Church.

How does the average Russian diet size up nutritionally?

Russians honor fish in their cuisine, from the mundane herring to the noble salmon and herring. In this issue we feature Pan Roasted Sturgeon.

In this, the first of a six part series where we trek east across Siberia, William Brumfield gives us a tour of Europe's Easternmost Town: Perm. Also includes a long sidebar on Khokhlovka.

The river town of Torzhok has weathered the centuries amazingly well. William Brumfield takes us on a tour.

Drunken salmon is a superb appetizer that dates from the time of Empress Anna Ioannovna.

Letny salat, a simple Russian green salad, showcases the fresh harvest from the dacha.