September 13, 2021

A Dedication to Dairy


A Dedication to Dairy
This one is vanilla, but you can buy these in so many different flavors and varieties too!  Photo by Aurin via Wikimedia Commons through CC BY-SA 2.5

Residents of Voronezh have made us all proud (and a little bit jealous) by setting the Russian record for eating the most syrki (a sweet cottage cheese-based dessert common in Russia) in one day. 

Anyone who has spent some time in Russia is familiar with the allure of a fresh syrok (the singular form of syrki); its crispy chocolate coating along with its smooth creamy filling makes it an ideal treat to accompany tea or breakfast, especially on a hot day. So it's easy to understand how a group of fair attendants were able to gobble down approximately 1,355 syrki in a single day, breaking the national record, according to the Russian Book of Records. 

The number given is only an approximation because the vendor at the fair wasn't able to write down the names of the individual persons who came and purchased their desserts. Also, quite understandably, many people came back for second servings, but officially, this double-dipping couldn't count toward the final total of syrki consumed. Still a pretty sweet accomplishment!

Maybe the editors at Russian Life can try to beat the record for most bliny eaten next. Let's just not think about all the calories.  

You Might Also Like

The great bird's milk secret
  • August 01, 1998

The great bird's milk secret

Ptichye moloko -- that famous Russian torte, has its history revealed here. But the recipe remains a secret...
From Tvorog to Protests
  • February 17, 2021

From Tvorog to Protests

Natalia was raised between downtown St. Petersburg and a small village. She is passionate about sharing all aspects of Russian life: both the good and the bad.  
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955