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Etiquette & Entertaining & RU cooking

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ForgeMaster:
Maybe this is material for another section and if it is, I will split it off later. 

  What would be some examples of the medicinal use of vegetables, herbs and spices? 

mendeleyev:
FM, I believe that vodka is a Russian herb too!  It is great medicine, too!   ;D

Sorry, I couldn't resist. 

ForgeMaster:

--- Quote from: mendeleyev on February 08, 2008, 09:24:32 PM ---FM, I believe that vodka is a Russian herb too!  It is great medicine, too!   ;D

Sorry, I couldn't resist. 

--- End quote ---

Oh yes, my dear friend, anyone and everyone in Rus knows that a little vodka with lemon is a sure cure for a sore throat!!  Either more lemon or more vodka will bring a swifter recovery.

FM

mendeleyev:
Dining Etiquette:


When you are invited to a Russian's house:
Bring a gift to the family who invites you to their home for dinner. A bottle of wine, cake, box of candy or bouquet of flowers are traditional. A small gift for the child is always appropriate.
Remove your outdoor shoes. You will be given slippers to wear. It is impolite to walk in a Russian home only in socks or in bare feet.
Dress nicely in clothes you might wear to the office. Dressing well shows respect for your hosts.
Expect to be treated with honour and respect.
Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served. You will be turned down out of politeness. Asking 'are you sure?' allows the hostess to accept your offer.
 

Table manners:
If from the USA, dont be shocked when seeing that the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.  This is European Continential style.  Unless you are at a very formal function, you may hold utensils like you do back home.
The oldest or most honoured guest is served first.
Do not begin eating until the host/hostess invites you to start.
Do not rest your elbows on the table, although your hands should be visible at all times.
You will often be urged to take second helpings.
It is polite to use bread to soak up gravy or sauce.
Men pour drinks for women seated next to them.
Leaving a small amount of food on your plate indicates that your hosts have provided ample hospitality.
It is improper to look into another's plate or saucer.
Remember to say "Thanks, everything was very tasty" to the one who made the dish upon leaving the table.  If a translator is present the phrase "very tasty" is probably better to use than "delicious."  Very tasty in Russian sounds something like "oh-chen koos-nah." 
Small food should not be cut.
Do not cross your legs with the ankle on the knee or put your feet on the furniture. It's impolite to show people the soles of your shoes.


Leaving the table:
Do not get up until you are invited to leave the table. At formal dinners, the guest of honour is the first to get up from the table.  If you are the guest of honour the hostess will suggest when to leave the table--in most cases it will be a couple of hours, or more, from the moment you sat down.  Tea and conversation is done at the table after the meal.


Toasts:
There will be toasts.  Your host/hostess will begin.  Avoid drinking vodka before a toast has been made. Keep your glass raised throughout the toast and then clink glasses with others before taking the shot of vodka. In Russia, vodka is served straight and taken as a shot.
It is impolite for you to fail to offer a toast honouring your host/hostess and thanking them for the gracious invitation into their home.
As the meal and the toasts continue, at some point offer a second toast of greetings from your family and friends in America/UK/Canada/etc  and good health from your family to the host/hostess and this Russian family.
DO take bites of food in between sipping vodka. To not do so is bad form.  And it will help absorb the alcohol.




Notes:
You'll be provided slippers but it's okay to take your own.  I carry mine often (size 11) in a cloth bag that also holds a camera, etc.  It's perfectly normal.

Re:  very tasty.  There is a small and rapid "va" sound at the start of koos-nah but it happens so quickly that unless you've practiced it you're better off just going with the 'oh-chen koos-nah' and it will be pleasantly understood (Эта очень вкусна).  To really please your hostess you can say "spa-cee-ba, Eh-ta oh-chen koos-nah" which means "thank you, it is very tasty."  To practice and then say this phrase in Russian is perhaps the highest compliment you can offer the hostess during the evening.

Re: gifts.  It's proper to bring a gift for your lady but it's very important to remember that her mother is the hostess (even if she doesn't live there or if your lady owns the apartment).  Its not just that your lady has an 'extended family,' this is an 'extended home.'  Do not forget a gift of flowers or some wine or chocolate for the hostess.

Re: flowers.  Yellow flowers, unless specifically requested by your lady, are not a good choice.  It could be misunderstood as a sign that you desire friendship instead of romance.  Yellow in a bouquet is okay as long as there are plenty of other colours present and the yellow is not the dominate colour.



Manny:

--- Quote from: Mendeleyev ---If from the USA, dont be shocked when seeing that the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.  This is European Continential style.
--- End quote ---

Americans dont eat like this?  :o I had never noticed.

Most Russians I have encountered use a fork with the right hand only. Often in Russian restaurants I have had to ask for a knife.

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