The first time I had shawarma in Russia, I didn’t know what to expect. I’d had it in the Middle East before — lots of herbs, pickles, tahini sauce. This was different. The meat was pork. Or sometimes chicken, but often pork. In a country with so many Muslims, that surprised me. But old habits, …
The first time I saw a pork chop bun, I wasn’t impressed. It looked like a bread roll with a piece of fried pork sticking out. That’s it? No lettuce, no tomato, no sauce? But my friend insisted. “Just try it,” she said. I took a bite. The bun was crusty on the outside, soft …
The first time I saw kotleta s pyure, I thought it was just a breaded patty with mashed potatoes on the side. Nothing fancy. Just meat and potatoes. Like something my mom would make on a busy weeknight. But one bite, and I got it. The cutlet was crispy on the outside, soft and juicy …
The first time someone ordered steak tartare, I thought they were crazy. Raw beef. A raw egg on top. Chopped pickles and onions on the side. It looked like something that belonged in a horror movie, not on a plate. I watched my friend mix it all together — the meat, the egg, the capers, …
