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Russia Vibes

Independent travel guides: places, food, transport and practical tips, checked and kept up to date.

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Oct 2026 latest update

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Food & Drink

Kvass: How to Make Traditional Rye Bread Drink at Home

A fermented rye bread drink with over 1,000 years of history in Russian culture. Learn how to make traditional kvass at home…

Food & Drink

Leningradsky Rassolnik: How to Make Classic St. Petersburg Pickle Soup

A traditional Russian pickle soup with beef kidneys, potatoes, carrots and barley in a tangy broth. Created in Soviet-era Leningrad, it has…

Food & Drink

Pirozhki: How to Make Traditional Russian Hand Pies at Home

Pirozhki are a popular Russian pastry of filled buns that are either baked or fried. Typically boat-shaped, they are hand-sized, made of…

Food & Drink

Pyshki: How to make Saint Petersburg’s iconic fried doughnuts

Pyshki are ring-shaped fried doughnuts from Saint Petersburg, dusted with powdered sugar. A simple yeast dough recipe you can make at home.

Food & Drink

Pelmeni: How to Make Russian Meat Dumplings

Learn to make pelmeni, the iconic Russian boiled meat dumplings. A traditional recipe with thin dough, seasoned meat filling, and simple preparation…

Food & Drink

Koryushka: Saint Petersburg’s Seasonal Smelt Fried Simple

Koryushka, or European smelt – a small fish that locals consider their main gastronomic specialty. A seasonal spring dish from Saint Petersburg,…

Food & Drink

Borscht: How to Make Classic Beet Soup at Home

A hearty Eastern European beet soup with roots in Ukrainian cuisine. Served hot with sour cream and dill, borscht has become a…

Food & Drink

Dark Rye Bread: Recipe, History and How to Bake It at Home

A dense, dark sourdough made with rye flour, molasses, and aromatic seeds. Traditionally served with cured meats, herring, or butter.

Food & Drink

Kvass: How to Make This Traditional Russian Fermented Bread Drink

Kvass is a traditional fermented drink made from dark rye bread, water and sugar. This centuries-old Eastern European beverage is lightly carbonated,…

Food & Drink

Herring Forshmak: How to Make This Baltic-Jewish Appetizer

A traditional dish of Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, particularly associated with the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. A savory appetizer made primarily from…