Anywho - I am out there this afternoon with Natash. He is taking his smoking break with a bunch of drivers (lots of residents in our complex have cars with drivers. So the drivers either sleep in the car or stand around smoking while waiting to be needed). I see him walk toward me with his hand outstretched, offering me something - he nods to me - please take it . .. from a distance looks like sticks of gum.
Hmmm, he is offering me some gum.
how nice.
But he gets closer and I notice it isnt gum.
They are 5 or 6 little fish.
Like the whole fish.
Smoked I think. I smile and say нет, спасибо (no thank you), he says something like они чисты - they are clean (not sure if he meant they dont need to be cleaned - you eat them whole, or they are clean as in not dirty). I politely decline again. I look over and all the men are standing around smoking and eating the little fish.
Not really into the little smoked/salted fish you eat whole. Leo LOVES them. He would have taken them.
I do have to say though that it was a really nice gesture and I was flattered he thought to offer me some!
I feel a little more In with the Russians now.
maybe I should have taken them . . . .
I think the smell! It is the only Russian food I have not embraced. Alex is nice enough not to eat them in front of me, but I had to watch him bite the heads off all summer long last year via skype.
ReplyDeleteHow nice of him to offer!
I don't like the smell too much either. I think it's better to decline than to choke and gag? If I were at someone's house though I would try it.
ReplyDeleteMy friend, Elis, who lived in Moscow and survived . . . flourished even . . . says they are just the think to snack on while drinking with Russians.
ReplyDeleteI dunno. She's back in Florida now. You think she's snacking on little dried fish there?
Me, neither.
The THING. The thing to snack on.
ReplyDeleteOy.
Wow. Beats potato chips, I guess, at least when it comes to protein and good fatty acids. :D My sister bought some tiny dried fish and was snacking on them once. I tried one... just tasted really salty.
ReplyDeleteyum, smoked, salted mini fish. maybe they taste like goldfish crackers?!?!
ReplyDeleteI also would have politely thanked him and passed on the fish. I like my fish cooked and served on a plate such as salmon steak or flounder.
ReplyDeleteI would have taken them and nibbled, as I do when the children offer....but it is their absolute FAVORITE thing to get at the "Russian Store". And, they aren't free! Darned expensive, really. How about some suhariki, I cajole....but no; fish.
ReplyDeleteI have tried little dried fish before - but drove leo nuts because I wouldnt eat the head or tail. TIARL- I get to watch Leo eat them via skype too - I always casually mention that he really needs to rinse the dishes so the apt wont smell like fish all day. I am sorry- I just cant bite off any heads!
ReplyDeleteI know they are the thing to eat when going to the banya- we went to a few in 1999 - just a few country ones owned be people leo knew growing up- outside his town (Ural mtns) - so not the fancy ones here- but after you steam you drink beer and eat those little salty fish. Every time we went thats is what we did after. It was a lot of fun, beer goes right to your head because you are so dehydrated and you are thirsty from the fish (and if like me, just want to get the fish taste out of your mouth so you drink more because that is all they are offering). One of those great experiences which really cant be replicated anywhere else!
You remember in Greece they eat little goldfish I call them whole. They are deep fried. Buy them fresh off the port, take them home fry them up and eat them.
ReplyDeleteUmm, dont they have their waste product still inside them!!?!?I never take them, although I've been encouraged many times.
I remember Leo loved them!!