TICKLING YOUR PALATE

TICKLING YOUR PALATE

Hey bunnies, Welcome back!

In this post, we shall talk about the food and eating habits in Ukraine and of Ukrainian people. 

I have often heard students and parents alike ask about foods available in Ukraine and let me tell you that some of them were really concerned about the fact whether they will starve once they reach here.

Well today I am going to abate your fears once and for all. I am going to tell you EVERYTHING you can possibly want to know about Ukrainian feeding habit. 

Please remember.. !!! UKRAINE IS EUROPE.. AND HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANY EUROPEAN COUNTRY DYING OF FOOD SHORTAGE!?! LIKE REALLY!?

Oh well, ok jokes apart.. Ukraine was formerly known as the “bread basket” of the Europe and titles are conferred upon something or someone for a reason. They must have done something good!!

Ukraine consists of both VEGETARIAN AND NON-VEGETARIAN populations. So, in case you are wondering that whether you shall die of starvation if you choose to remain a vegetarian after you reach Ukraine, let me assure you that you shall find more than your fair share of veggies, and more which you may not have even seen in India. Example.. Grechka.. a highly protein rich grain, more nutritious than Daal. You will get all the varieties of Cheese, Soy, Tofu etc. to fill your vegetarian appetite.

Rice and wheat are the staple food here and there is no apparent shortage of them anywhere in Ukraine. You can find them anywhere and everywhere and that too in a mindboggling number of varieties. 

The price of rice ranges from 7 UAH to 25 UAH for 1 Kg. (Approx. 45 INR to 165 INR). This includes exotic varieties like Basmati and Thai Rice.

People here eat a LOT of Potatoes.. Yes, an entire course of dinner may consist of just different dishes of potatoes and potato cuisines, so yeah, get the hint.. potato is cheap here.. very cheap.. really really cheap.

The price of potato ranges from 5 UAH to 10 UAH for 1 Kg. (Approx. 32.5 INR to 65 INR).

Now for the meat lovers like me.. !!!

Ukraine is like the meat heaven!! You shall find all the different varieties of meat that you have ever dreamt of like:
  
Chicken
Lamb
Mutton
Beef
Pork
Veal
Steak
Turkey
Sausages 
Meat dumplings 

 

Even horse meat and supposedly tortoise and rabbit meat. They all come at a very fair price and yeah farm fresh in quality. 

IMPORTANT NOTE!!!! Do you know the meaning of the terms Veal, Steak, Sausage and Meat Dumplings ?
 You may not have previously come across these meat products in India, so please pay attention.. 

                                                      VEAL

                                                    STEAK
 

                                       

                                                     

                                                 SAUSAGE

                                       MEAT DUMPLINGS

Meat dumplings are also known as Verinikis. But the fun part is that they come with a lot of other fillings as well. You can order for vegetarian fillings that will contain either cabbage, potato or other veggies. 
 Ukraininas are geniuses when it comes to catering food to people from all background. Almost all kinds of traditional and non traditional Ukrainian food has a vegertarian side as well as a non vegetarian side. 


 
The places where you can go shopping are essentially limited to two zones. 

      1. The commercial supermarkets and shopping malls, where you shall find everything packed and sealed, right from Chicken to Shoe Polish under one roof top.

      2.  The open Bazaar, also known as Rynok in Russian. Where you shall have a unique experience of buying stuff from native Ukrainians selling their commodities. But for this you need to have at least the basic knowledge about the language in order to make the shopkeeper understand your requirement. You may ask for help from your seniors in this aspect and they shall be more than happy to help you out with this. 

Some guidelines while shopping at the Rynok:

1. People don’t haggle here (essentially anywhere in Europe), it is considered rude and inconsiderate. So please don’t try it here.
2. You do not touch commodities until and unless you wish to buy it. You do not test it by probing and prodding it.
3. You may need to pay for plastic carry bags here, as it is now also practiced in India, so don’t be surprised if you are asked to pay extra for a packet.
4. The rate is fixed and is mostly displayed over the commodity, so do not be deceived and calculate the amount you need to pay mentally yourself as well if you are in doubt.
5. The Rynoks are BIG places, and chances of getting lost in its maze are very real, but there is no need to panic, there are several exists and people are more than helpful to provide you with any assistance you need.
6. Please do not shove, jostle or elbow around people here.

Now for the FISH LOVERS!!!

You shall have an amazing variety of fishes here... Including: 

Salmon
Tuna
Sardine
Fillet
Squid
Shrimps
Prawn
Crabs
Sushi 

And most of the sea fishes and sweet water fishes.. not listing them here because all you need to do is recognize your choice fish and point it out. So the fish lovers out there please be reassured that you will have your fill with fishes. 

IMPORTANT NOTE !!! please remember that sea food is considered vegetarian here so you should specifically ask for sea food menu or ask them specifically not to put it in your food in case you are a vegetarian. 

Well since we have started about food, and we have barely scratched the surface, why not go all the way with it.  In the next post, I shall describe about the supermarkets here and compare them with each other about which one is better than the other.. About price, quality, quantity and longevity.

So long for today… hope you had enjoyed today’s post, please do keep the questions coming.