November 24, 2020

No Ketchup Here


No Ketchup Here

School cafeterias are getting some new restrictions.

The head of Russia’s Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, or Rospotrebnadzor, recently approved the new requirements, intended to make children healthier by increasing their vitamin intake and using iodized salt to keep children safe from an iodine deficiency.

The changes require that children are fed a hot meal, but there are some limitations on what that can include. For example, the classic dish macaroni po-flotski (макароны по-флотски) is no longer allowed, along with many ingredients, such as mushrooms, vinegar, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Also not allowed are kvas, sausages, peanuts, caramel, and cold soups, like okroshka. Vending machines can be installed, but they can’t contain candy, soda, or chips, but rather juice, water, nuts, and dried fruit.

The new regulations go into effect on January 1, 2021.

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Some of Our Books

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Woe From Wit (bilingual)

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The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
Jews in Service to the Tsar

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At the Circus

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
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Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
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Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

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The Little Golden Calf

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Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

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