Eating Out: St. Petersburg

Sample traditional Russian cuisine in St. Petersburg!

Sample traditional Russian cuisine in St. Petersburg - Park Inn by Radisson Blog Have a nice dinner at one of these Tripadvisor-recommended restaurants in St. Petersburg. Enjoy the exciting flavours of the traditional Russian cuisine.

Interesting facts :)

The Roman Emperor Victorinus is famous for having once eaten a thousand oysters at a single sitting. The Guinness Book of Records recognizes the Irishman Colin Sherlows’s feat of downing 233 oysters in just three minutes.

The tender, juicy piece of fish melts in your mouth. And your memory obligingly paints a picture: the Mediterranean coast, palms, a gentle breeze, warm sand and, shoals of golden fish. The most tasty and fresh steak from norwegian salmon in Stroganoff Steak House for you! :)

Any ice-cream is a chilled whipped emulsion of a milk and sugar mixture with the possible addition of cream, eggs, fruit juice, fruit and even vegetables. At an annual thematic festival in Japan you can try such exotic vari¬eties as ice-cream with seawater, tulips and fried aubergines!

Dorada belongs to the sparidae (bream) family, but its taste qualities are far superior to those of its “rela¬tives”. Its white meat with a slight pinkish tinge was highly prized back in Ancient Rome. In order to have a supply of dorada ready to be supplied to patrician tables at any moment, they were bred in special basins of seawater. The dorada is a golden fish. Its name in French, Spanish and Italian has its origins in the Latin root aurum — “gold". In Germany it is called Goldbrasse, while in Britain it is also called “gilthead”. This last name comes from its iridescent golden-yellow crescent-shaped mark above its eyes.

Do you like this fish? :)

«There are tastes that саnnot be altered».

Before using endives, theу should be scalded with boiling water. That takes the bitterness out of this curly-leaved salad vegetable.

How to make a real English breakfast, some secrets :)
When cooking porridge, be aware that:

- Rump always fall asleep in boiling salted liquid, and not vice versa. Then cook on low heat. Crumbly mess after swelled cereals and porridge thickens, put it in the oven be well stewed;
- Never cook porridge in an enamel pot. And burnt porridge, and utensils deteriorates. Cooking porridge use aluminum pans. But the best dishes, which turns out tasty and flavorful porridge, all or portions of the same pot clay pot;
- If a pan of burnt porridge, it is easy to wash, the bay with a little water and soap planed. Pan tightly with a lid and put on a stand on a very low heat for a couple of hours;
- To improve the taste of porridge and greater shortening in boiling water before setting cereals is recommended to put butter or ghee;
- After the laying of cereal porridge mix, if we want it turned viscous. Do not interfere to produce a crumbly mess;
- Stirring the porridge, do not hurry, you should do it slowly. Rapid stirring slow cooking;
- Rice will turn white and tasty, if a little water, add the vinegar;
- Rice porridge will taste better if you put into it before eating whipped egg white with a fork;
- Semolina is soft and lump-free, if the dealer wash in several waters;
- Buckwheat porridge after cooking will be more crumbly if fluffing her big fork or spatula and put it in oil;
- To have a crumbly barley porridge was not unpleasant blue water immediately after boiling, should be drained and then re-pour hot grits with salted water and add the butter;
- Pearl barley is cooked faster if its a two or three hours to soak in cold water.

Grilled Marinated Flat Iron Steak
Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Ingredients:
2-to-2 1/2 pound Flatiron steak (London broil or flank steak can be substituted)

For marinade:
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
• 1 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
• 2/3 cup olive oil

Instructions:

Whisk all marinade ingredients together in a bowl.
Put the meat in a large resealable plastic bag and pour marinade over it. Seal bag, pressing out excess air, and set in a shallow dish. Marinate meat, chilled, turning bag once or twice for several hours.
Remove meat from marinade and discard the marinade. Have a hot grill ready. Cook meat for 9 to 10 minutes on each side, or until it registers 135°F. to 140°F., on a meat thermometer for medium-rare meat. (This may vary according to the thickness of the meat.) Transfer meat to a cutting board and let stand 10 minutes. Cut meat diagonally across the grain into thin slices.

«To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, to be given a chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life. The money is the gravy» - Bette Davis, actress

Historical facts about blue cheese

Blue cheese is believed to have been discovered by accident, when cheeses were stored in naturally temperature and moisture controlled caves, which happened to be favourable environments for many varieties of harmless mold. Roquefort is mentioned in texts as far back as 79 AD.

Gorgonzola is one of the oldest known blue cheeses, having been created around 879 AD, though it is said that it did not actually contain blue veins until around the 11th century. Stilton is a relatively new addition becoming popular sometime in the early 18th century. Many varieties of blue cheese that originated subsequently such as Danablu and Cambozola were an attempt to fill the demand for Roquefort-style cheeses that were prohibitive due to either cost or politics.
Remember, blue cheese is a great snack to wine :)

“The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook” - Julia Child

The world’s biggest red wine consumers are the Chinese but a really small country is rocking first place per capita basischinese-wine-consumers-wiine-me
The Chinese drank their way to a record 155 million 9-litre cases of red wine in 2013, thereby surpassing the French whose consumption decreased by 18 % to 150 million cases. The increasing popularity of red wine in China is largely due to the fact that red is considered to be a lucky color. This symbolic importance combined with the health improving virtues of the drink, encourage Chinese to grab a bottle from the supermarket shelf more and more often.

Meat and exercise: a good combination
For those that enjoy a high level of physical exercise, eating more lean meat is recommended because it provides the type of protein required. Exercising breaks down protein and builds up and repairs muscles. As meat is muscle protein, it provides the perfect amino acid combination to cope with the increased need for protein when engaging in more arduous physical exercise.

Five good reasons for eating meat
1. Meat is a natural part of a balanced diet
Meat is useful in ensuring a good balance of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals within the diet.
2. Meat is a key source of protein
Meat contains a number of essential nutritional elements – protein, for instance, has a high biological value.
3. Meat protein is very useful when dieting
When measured by energy unit, protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates and fat. As the availability of lean cuts is wider than ever, avoiding excess fat is quite easy.
4. Meat is rich in vitamins
Meat is a good source of vitamin D, which prevents osteoporosis. Additionally, meat contains a number of vitamins such as B1, B2, B6, B12 and niacin as well as iron.
5. Meat is rich in vital minerals
Meat makes a valuable contribution to a varied diet, including a number of minerals, particularly zinc and selenium.

6 Things You Might Not Know about Avocados
• An Avocado Has More Potassium Than A Banana
A single avocado has 975 milligrams of potassium, while a banana, well-known for being loaded with potassium, delivers just half that, with 487 milligrams per large fruit.
• They'll Ripen More Quickly With A Banana Or An Apple Around
Speaking of bananas! The yellow fruit -- as well as apples -- release ethylene gas, a naturally-occurring plant hormone. If you store your unripe avocados in a brown bag with an apple or a banana, the gases trapped in the bag will help those green guys ripen more speedily, according to The Haas Avocado Board.
• Avocados Are One Of A Few High-Protein Fruits
One avocado packs four grams of protein, among the highest amount coming from a fruit. And it's good-quality protein to boot. While they don't contain every single amino acid required in the body's protein-building process, they do have all 18 of the important ones, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Plus, all of that protein is available for the body to use, while some of the protein you might get from meat sources is not.
• You Can Swap Them Into Baked Goods Recipes For Butter
The creamy texture and healthy fats make for a surprisingly-easy baking substitution. And no, you won't be making green muffins. In the right ratios, you can ditch some butter and replace with avocado for healthier chocolate chip cookies, banana bread and brownies.
• You Don't Have To Eat Them To Reap Their Benefits
Nutritional perks aside, avocados can play a key role in your healthy hair and skin routine. The antioxidants, amino acids and essential oils inside an avocado can help repair damaged hair, moisturize dry skin, treat sunburns and maybe even minimize wrinkles.
Salad with greens and avocado is a great addition to meat!

Looking for red wine which ideally matches any meat? Try the Australian Two Hands Sexy Beast, Cabernet Sauvignon!

Deep dark red in color. This is a seriously elegant cabernet, showing an inviting array of lovely violets, red fruits, ash and minerality, with a subtle Cabernet Sauvignon trademark herbal thread. The elegance on the nose reflects the restraint on the palate. Red fruits, spice and ash creating a long, even palate supported by loads of fine tannins giving this wine tightness and great balance.

Vinified in traditional open fermenters, the wine is then matured for 14 months in French oak hogsheads.

At Stroganoff Steak House we have got a special reserve of Two Hands Sexy Beast, Cabernet Sauvignon in our wine cellar!

The table is the only place where one does not suffer, from ennui during the first hour.
Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Scientists at the Portuguese University of Minho created a new alcohol-containing drink: the so-called alcoholic coffee. The drink is derived from used coffee grinds, and is actually stronger that cognac or vodka.

The scientist are sure that the drink has got a huge market potential!

Looking for a light and healthy salad? Try Caprese!

The salad is very light and gives you quick sense of fullness along with a batch of vitamins. Just for reference: in Italy Caprese is as popular as Olivier salad in Russia.

Caprese is a low-cal food — one serving contains 380 Kcal. So this is an ideal thing for the dieting ladies.

At Stroganoff Steak House our Caprese is always fresh and delicious!

Ever heard about food pictures that smell?

Well one student in China Zhu Jingxuan has a concept to capture the aroma of food on a postcard.

The ‘food printer’ would use a camera to take the picture and a smell extractor to collect the aroma simultaneously, then prints a postcard with aroma ink.

A brand new way to check meat for freshness!

Designers from Lithuanian ARS Lab studio and researchers from Kaunas University of Technology devised a unique gadget called Peres, which helps determine quality of meat.

The device allows you to check meat for freshness and evaluates risks of food poisoning.
The device has four types of sensors: temperature, humidity, amonia and volatile organic compounds sensors. To operate the device, the user simply directs it towards the food product and clicks a button. The device uses Bluetooth technology to transmit data to the user’s smartphone or tablet, which displays a detailed results with recommendations regarding the safety of the product.

Turns out that Neanderthals were the first people to cook meat!

The recent findings of Michigan archeologists prove that Neanderthals were much more skilled cooks than one would think. 30 000 years ago the Neanderthals who lived in the territory of nowadays Texas were capable of cooking meat not only on campfire. They would also wrap meat slabs in pelts or bark and would dig them in charcoals. This cooking technique made meat more tender and delicious.
The examination of animal bones proves that 90% of all meat used to be cooked exactly this way. What’s your favourite cooking technique, by the way?

The famous London Electric Cinema is now also known as Edible Cinema. Each guest is supplied with a tray of numbered mystery boxes containing a bite-sized tasting menu tailored to specific moments in the film. Pan's Labyrinth was the first edible film on screen. The ticket price was 34$ a piece.

Just make sure you test every single reason :)

Chocolate remedy…

The recent studies of the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute show that dark chocolate reduce symptoms of chronic cough.
Cocoa contains many antioxidants, including theobromine, which halts the cough reflex. While a daily bar of dark chocolate may contain enough theobromine to have an effect on a chronic cough, the symptoms normally return once chocolate treatment ended.

Ever tried carrot cake?
Here is a simple DIY recipe.

Ingredients:
Creme:
1 tablespoon vanilla
nuts ( optional)
100 gr butter
500 gr icing sugar
ground orange zest

Cake:
300 gr pastry flour
6 eggs
300 gr sugar
350 ml cooking oil
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 pinches salt
450 gr raw finely ground carrots
28 cm baking pan

Steps:
1. In a mixing bowl mix sugar and cooking oil (app. 10 min)

2. Add eggs and keep on mixing until smooth.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture and blend well.
4. Fold in ground carrots and blend with wooden spatula until smooth.
5. Grease the baking pan generously with butter and distribute the batter evenly. Bake at 180°C for 1 hour.
6. To prepare creme filling and icings. In a suitable bowl of large mixer, place powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, and butter. Beat at second speed until thoroughly blended. Fold in icing sugar and ground orange zest.
7. Let the cake cool.
8. With spatula, spread the creme to cover top and sides of cake. You can use small Marzipan carrots as decoration.
You can try and cook the cake at home, or enjoy it at Stroganoff Steak House. Both options are great!

Rising Sun Anger Releas Bar in China is a perfect place to let off steam :)

For 50-300 yuans (8-50 dollars) the clientele are allowed and even encouraged to take out their daily frustration and rage in a mostly harmless fashion: by attacking specially trained employees. The customers may rant, smash glass, or perhaps even kick some shins if the mood inspires them. The employees are provided with protective gear.

The stomach of an educated person has the best qualities of a good heart: sensitivity and gratitude — Alexander Pushkin

There are more old wine lovers than old doctors”, the French say. And it makes you think about the health benefits of drinking wine, doesn’t it?

Although alcoholic drinks are generally bad for health, you should keep in mind that wine is a unique natural product. The recent research has shown that men should drink 2 glasses of wine per day and women, 1 glass. Wine stimulates lipid metabolism, balances out the lipoproteins in blood, which helps prevent atherosclerosis. A little bit of wine before dinner will improve your digestion and metabolism.

Travel back to the time of chic and elegant Marilyn Monroe! There is nothing easier than that!

30 May 2014, 21:00, Party a la Marilyn
Our special guests are four beautiful ladies from SUSIE Q music band!

The young band has already collaborated with prominent Russian performers and singers and received numerous prizes at home and international music contests.

SUSIE Q stands for style and quality, crazy energy, real drive and 100% live performance! Feel the energy of beauty with one of the brightest quartets in St. Petersburg!

Reservations: +7 (812) 314-55-14, +7 931-314-55-38

Don’t listen to what people say, live your life to the fullest!

A friend of mine recommended a super diet: no things sweet, no things salty and no alcohol… I am kind of wondering: is she still a friend to me after that?

It turns out, wine actually helps you tone up muscles and burn fat!

Strasbourg University scientists are convinced that resveratrol (found in seeds and skins of red grapes) can prevent the negative impact of hypokinesia during space flights and hypodynamia if you lead an inactive life.

Not only does resveratrol strengthen the vascular walls, decrease cholesterol levels and clear the arteries, but it also helps you tone up muscles and burn fat.

It turns out, there is cutlery language!
You can communicate with waiters with no words showing how you feel about the food, or if you are ready/ not ready for the next course :)
Save it to remember!

5 fun facts about asparagus:

1. Asparagus is low-calorie food: 100 gr contain only 15 Kcal. So you won’t put on weight if you eat it regularly.

2. They used asparagus as aphrodisiac in Ancient Rome and in Medieval Europe. It serves the same purpose even in our time.

3. The scientific name is asparagus officinalis. The plant is classified in the lily family, along with hyacinth (by the way, asparagus really resembles a sprouting hyacinth), and less romantic onion and garlic.

4. Asparagus is truly rich in dietary elements: folic acid, vitamin A, C, E, K, minerals and fiber.

5. If consumed regularly, asparagus is good for your immune system, vision, nerves and skin. Asparagus is also a great detoxificant, it keeps blood pressure stable and gives you energy.

Come and try delicious grilled asparagus at Stroganoff Bar & Grill. Our address is: Repino, Primorskoe Shosse 418.

More info and reservations: +7 (812) 432 05 75 www.stroganoffgrill.ru