The Quality of Meat in the FSU

[Dogsoldier]

Im sat having a English fry up, we got plenty of bacon.. popped up the supermarket earlier shelves are packed full again..

They are giving visa extensions to any foreigners who has a visa that expires before May1st and is worried about returning to hell..from what I hear there are a lot of people not wanting to leave Russia..

Just 142 cases here.. it could be lies.. who knows .. carrying on as normal even working on my new tourist business .. But I'm still always ready for Armageddon 

Ok Steve your in Russia, saying you have bacon, made me almost fall on floor.
When travel restrictions lift, come visit me, I will show you bacon.
Beef and Bacon in FSU is mostly not fit to eat.

So when ready come on over  I will give you a great steak and fresh Lobster for supper.
Bacon and eggs form breakfast

Food for thought.

Could be a new topic.

Your experience of eating/buying meat in the FSU?

[Steveboy]

Im sat having a English fry up, we got plenty of bacon.. popped up the supermarket earlier shelves are packed full again..

They are giving visa extensions to any foreigners who has a visa that expires before May1st and is worried about returning to hell..from what I hear there are a lot of people not wanting to leave Russia..

Just 142 cases here.. it could be lies.. who knows .. carrying on as normal even working on my new tourist business .. But I'm still always ready for Armageddon 

Ok Steve your in Russia, saying you have bacon, made me almost fall on floor.
When travel restrictions lift, come visit me, I will show you bacon.
Beef and Bacon in FSU is mostly not fit to eat.

So when ready come on over  I will give you a great steak and fresh Lobster for supper.
Bacon and eggs form breakfast

Im no fool trust me!!  I got bacon from the Uk .. usually bring about 20 packs back with me and sausages a long with steak and kidney pies 

[Steveboy]

Im sat having a English fry up, we got plenty of bacon.. popped up the supermarket earlier shelves are packed full again..

They are giving visa extensions to any foreigners who has a visa that expires before May1st and is worried about returning to hell..from what I hear there are a lot of people not wanting to leave Russia..

Just 142 cases here.. it could be lies.. who knows .. carrying on as normal even working on my new tourist business .. But I'm still always ready for Armageddon 

Ok Steve your in Russia, saying you have bacon, made me almost fall on floor.
When travel restrictions lift, come visit me, I will show you bacon.
Beef and Bacon in FSU is mostly not fit to eat.

So when ready come on over  I will give you a great steak and fresh Lobster for supper.
Bacon and eggs form breakfast

Im no fool trust me!!  I got bacon from the Uk .. usually bring about 20 packs back with me and sausages a long with steak and kidney pies 

As with anywhere even in Russia if you have money you can buy what ever food you want best quality beef or any other food, depends where you go.. local cheap supermarket or a high class food shop..just like in the UK a cheap 1pound Chicken in Tesco or a nice organic one from the local butchers ..

[NS1]

Glad to hear it, would should not have to suffer with the beef and bacon they supply.
its almost a crime lol.

[Steveboy]

Glad to hear it, would should not have to suffer with the beef and bacon they supply.
its almost a crime lol.

The fish and chips aint the same either !! looks like I'm not going to be seeing that for a few months now

[Markje]

Thats the 1 thing I have finally given up on, on Crimea.

They are NOT capable of making a decent steak or other cow-meat products.

[Manny]

When we spent a lot of time in Estonia I had a freezer full of British bacon. The Estonians didn’t really understand bacon.

As for steak in Russia and the near regions? With the exception of the very expensive (now gone) Vostochny Express in Togliatti, it’s all crap that I had. Including expensive places in Moscow.

In Russia, chewy pork shashlik? 

My FIL (who taught me barbecue) was shocked we use decent beef and chicken fillet here. I think he had a religious experience when he ate my barbie. 

[Steveboy]

The best beef, the best steaks the best of everything is here if your willing to pay for it much depends where you eat out..

Chewy old beef? Don't come across much of that when we go out..

All I really miss is fish and chips..

[Dogsoldier]

I bought chicken at the bazaar.
There was a van parked up with the rear doors open and it was stacked with fresh whole chicken. The seller had a table up with some scales. Business was brisk. 

[Markje]

The best beef, the best steaks the best of everything is here if your willing to pay for it much depends where you eat out..

Chewy old beef? Don't come across much of that when we go out..

All I really miss is fish and chips..

Evpatoria has 2 or 3 very expensive restaurants. I can easily pay $30 per meal there (No drinks, just the food. Usual prices is more like $40 all in for 2 people). I tried them all for steak but its simply not possible.

My favorite top-billing restaurants:
- Moz-cafe ... they do almost all kitchens.
- St. Petersburg. More a hotel-restaurant of a 5-start hotel. Excellent food but expensive.

My favorite places to go:
- Gamlet - Not cheap, but not expensive either. Nice atmosphere
- Volodya - Shaslick fast-food setup, and damn good at it. seaside view on the balcony. (They also do take-out and delivery)
- Sushi - like the name says

[Guile]

Meat in Russia is generally lower quality than in the USA. Nothing like Whole Foods there.  I was in Moscow and there's no organic grass fed beef or free range chicken.

Azbuka Vkusna is a high end supermarket and their meats were quite good. Bought their burgers and it was fine.  But steak is like $50 for a rib eye!

[Steveboy]

The best beef, the best steaks the best of everything is here if your willing to pay for it much depends where you eat out..

Chewy old beef? Don't come across much of that when we go out..

All I really miss is fish and chips..

Evpatoria has 2 or 3 very expensive restaurants. I can easily pay $30 per meal there (No drinks, just the food. Usual prices is more like $40 all in for 2 people). I tried them all for steak but its simply not possible.

My favorite top-billing restaurants:
- Moz-cafe ... they do almost all kitchens.
- St. Petersburg. More a hotel-restaurant of a 5-start hotel. Excellent food but expensive.

My favorite places to go:
- Gamlet - Not cheap, but not expensive either. Nice atmosphere
- Volodya - Shaslick fast-food setup, and damn good at it. seaside view on the balcony. (They also do take-out and delivery)
- Sushi - like the name says

Evpatoria has 2 or 3 very expensive restaurants. I can easily pay $30 per meal . That is not expensive.. If your ever in St Petersburg I can give you a whole load of places where you can eat steak that is comparable to anywhere else in the world..If we go to a nice place we would pay min $100.00/150.00 for a meal pudding and drinks for two.. Moscow more some times..

I like my seafood so usually if I can will have King crab legs that's about $80.00 for a big plate enough for one Im a pig..

But its not all expensive you can go to many places and have a reasonable steak for $15/20

[NS1]

I have had some amazing pork dishes, but I guess they don't understand bacon or smoker.
Some great chicken dishes also, but beef, not fit to eat IMO.

Even in grocery stores I have been in, can't find decent beef.
Makes you wonder, what they are doing to the cows lol.

[Markje]

Evpatoria has 2 or 3 very expensive restaurants. I can easily pay $30 per meal . That is not expensive.. If your ever in St Petersburg I can give you a whole load of places where you can eat steak that is comparable to anywhere else in the world..

I'm sure you can steve, but I was talking about Crimea, which is nowhere near St Petersburg or Moscow

And for Evpatoria the prices are very big.... its a surprise to me too, because the grocery markets are just as expensive as in Netherlands. These restaurants must be getting their food cheaper some place else.

[Manny]

Meat in Russia is generally lower quality than in the USA.

I suppose it depends on how you define quality. A lot of US meat does not meet UK and EU standards due to chlorination and very high content of hormones, antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals.

[msmoby]

Had THE most melt-in-the-mouth steak in Tbilisi at the end of Feb.

Good steak is a rarity outside Moscow / Piter...Most Russians ( and our leader)  would reject it as 'not cooked enough'))

Cannot tell the difference in a Big Mac from Moscow to Manchester, Batumi to ( various ) Birminghams..

Bacon isn't cured / smoked in the way the Danes / Brits like it...

[NS1]

I have often thought if I could figure out a way to import fresh Beef and Bacon
to FSU at a reasonable cost, I could make a fortune with a burger joint.
Show them how to make real good french fries also.

Breakfast, real fish and chips from Here, possibilities are endless.

[2tallbill]

My FIL (who taught me barbecue) was shocked we use decent beef and chicken
fillet here. I think he had a religious experience when he ate my barbie. 

I've never had decent beef in the FSU. I tend to eat as they
do, the when in Rome sort of thing.

I never let Angel Eyes get near the steaks. She has no idea
how to cook it except cook it until it's as dry as shoe leather.

She is fairly adept at cooking fish but will happily step aside
if I say I want a crack at it.

[Manny]

My FIL (who taught me barbecue) was shocked we use decent beef and chicken
fillet here. I think he had a religious experience when he ate my barbie. 

I've never had decent beef in the FSU. I tend to eat as they
do, the when in Rome sort of thing.

I agree with you.

I probably wasn't clear. I learned to barbecue from my father-in-law 15 years ago at the dacha. Since then I've adapted it, learned stuff and like to do what I like to do. My repertoire is reasonably limited but I'm very good at what I can do.

The folks visited us recently so they had a new experience of barbecue in the UK.

A simple thing like a nice good quality organic fillet, barbecued nicely with a bit of melted blue cheese on top. That isn't really happening in Russia. The folks loved it.

[msmoby]

When it comes to  BBQs / Shaslik.. ( I've had a few in UK/ US / Cyprus/ Georgia / UA / RU ...  )   NOTHING has come close to how one of my biz partners cooks at his family Dacha in the mountains behind Sochi

He KNOWs how how make Shaslik .. but it's chicken and pork ...  Steaks are just not on their menu ..

[Chris]

My FIL (who taught me barbecue) was shocked we use decent beef and chicken
fillet here. I think he had a religious experience when he ate my barbie. 

I've never had decent beef in the FSU. I tend to eat as they
do, the when in Rome sort of thing.

I agree with you.

I probably wasn’t clear. I learned to barbecue from my father-in-law 15 years ago at the dacha. Since then I’ve adapted it, learned stuff and like to do what I like to do. My repertoire is reasonably limited but I’m very good at what I can do.

The folks visited us recently so they had a new experience of barbecue in the UK.

A simple thing like a nice good quality organic fillet, barbecued nicely with a bit of melted blue cheese on top. That isn’t really happening in Russia. The folks loved it.

I put good quality mature Stilton on ours, the rellies in Ukraine are hooked on vintage cheddar and Stilton, its always on our shopping list when visiting. My wife took a good few kilos of each over a month or so ago on her last trip 

[MBS01]

In Ukraine also most have no idea about the concept of steak.  Although we visited "Sam's Steakhouse" a few times in Kiev which imports its steaks and has foreign trained chef!  Really Good Steak considering.

In Dnipr. the BBQ'd items are presently chicken, lamb and beef as the place the family gets it from is Islamic so no pork there. Not bad really, but do miss the pork though.

On an earlier visit to Yalta the shop assistant wanted to cut the beefsteak for us and we ended up with stewing meat she had no idea of what or how a steak should look at all.  At least here at home we can get good Alberta beef for steaks. 

As to bacon there is a reason even Americans call it "Canadian Bacon" since we tend to use more of the pork loin rather than the other fatty stuff that passes for bacon generally.

Past visit to St Petersburg loved the hotel lunch as their steak and fries was almost as good as back here at home in Canada.

As to chips last visit in the Fall to Dnipr. found a new place in a city centre mall that serves fish and chips.  The chips are the thin cut ones similar to what is sold by Lay's etc.  Really good even went back and bought more before we left for Vienna and later home.  In Austria we also enjoy the "Nordic Fish" fast food places too.

[Contrarian]

In Ukraine also most have no idea about the concept of steak.  Although we visited "Sam's Steakhouse" a few times in Kiev which imports its steaks and has foreign trained chef!  Really Good Steak considering.

In Dnipr. the BBQ'd items are presently chicken, lamb and beef as the place the family gets it from is Islamic so no pork there. Not bad really, but do miss the pork though.

On an earlier visit to Yalta the shop assistant wanted to cut the beefsteak for us and we ended up with stewing meat she had no idea of what or how a steak should look at all.  At least here at home we can get good Alberta beef for steaks. 

As to bacon there is a reason even Americans call it "Canadian Bacon" since we tend to use more of the pork loin rather than the other fatty stuff that passes for bacon generally.

Past visit to St Petersburg loved the hotel lunch as their steak and fries was almost as good as back here at home in Canada.

As to chips last visit in the Fall to Dnipr. found a new place in a city centre mall that serves fish and chips.  The chips are the thin cut ones similar to what is sold by Lay's etc.  Really good even went back and bought more before we left for Vienna and later home.  In Austria we also enjoy the "Nordic Fish" fast food places too.

What is the name of the hotel in St. Petersburg?

[Manny]

I put good quality mature Stilton on ours, the rellies in Ukraine are hooked on vintage cheddar and Stilton, its always on our shopping list when visiting. My wife took a good few kilos of each over a month or so ago on her last trip 

Ours love British cheese as well. Wifey takes it as well.

[Guile]

Meat in Russia is generally lower quality than in the USA.

I suppose it depends on how you define quality. A lot of US meat does not meet UK and EU standards due to chlorination and very high content of hormones, antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals.

True if you are eating at mcdonalds or taco bell. i get the good stuff..Waitrose did have some good quality Angus and Hereford beef when I lived there.