Among my friends, it was a matter of great importance as to whether you privileged borsch over shchi or horilka over vodka. Food and drink choices were significant markers of cultural identity despite political changes.
The main thing that kept me going through one of the coldest Russian winters on record was not the drink but the thought of a lazy hot summer in the south of Ukraine. Culinary experiences and memories provided comfort and motivation during difficult times.
For a few of us from the west who came of age around this time, these countries were among the first places we traveled alone as adults, the first places we ate food that you couldn't get back home. Unique culinary experiences in Ukraine and surrounding areas shaped the author's early adulthood and sense of exploration.
[
add
]
[
|
|
...
]