Russian Cuisine in Exile

Pyotr Vail and Alexander Genis were, as they noted, “geopolitically” Russian. Born citizens of the USSR—Vail in Riga, Latvia in 1949 and Genis in Ryazan, Russia in 1953—they emigrated in 1977 to New York, where they became writers, journalists, and radio broadcasters. Among their endeavors was a short-lived Russian-language newspaper for Soviet émigrés called The New American, which they launced with fellow émigré author Sergei Dovlatov. They also both worked for Radio Liberty, eventually hosting their own programs (“Heroes of Our Time” and “American Hour with Alexander Genis). In 1995 Vail moved to Prague, where he headed the Russia desk and served as managing editor of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty until his death in 2009, while Genis remained in New York, where he lives to this day. Their writing partnership yielded two important books which make a significant contribution to the field of “everyday life studies,” taking the reader back in time to participate in the 1960s Soviet experience (The 60s. The World of Soviet People) or 1980s émigré life (Russian Cuisine in Exile). Erudite and ethical, clever and kind, these two writers offer a view into the lives of displaced people. Their language and culture tied them to the vast empire which had ejected them, and their thoughtful and often entertaining engagement with politics and literature continues to attract readers across the globe today. Angela Brintlinger is fascinated with Russian language and culture. She has written, edited and translated numerous books and articles about Russian literature and has taught several generations of students at Ohio State University, including co-translator Thomas Feerick, who is currently pursuing his PhD at Northwestern University.

Acknowledgements
Preface (Angela Brintlinger)
Introduction: Expressions of the Soul
1. The Clay Pot – A Repository of Tradition
2. Tea is not Vodka – You can’t drink too much
3. The Scent of Cabbage Soup
4. Walking on Eggshells
5. Back to the Chicken!
6. The Soul of Solyanka
7. Fish Tales
8. Vital Forces
9. An Unfashionable Virtue
10. I’ll Have the Kharcho!
11. Sharlotka, a Russian Name
12. The Anti-Semitic Lily
13. A Chameleon Lunch
14. In Search of Lost Appetite
15. Our Underwater Life
16. Mushroom Metaphysics
17. The Botvinya Battle
18. Running with the Sheep
19. Hang him from the Klyukovo Tree!
20. Ukha – Not Just Soup, but Pure Pleasure
21. Our Native Tongue
22. Jewish Penicillin
23. Salad and Salo
24. Rehabilitating the Cutlet
25. Adventures in Scent
26. The Wolf is Fed and the Lamb Survives
27. Pelmeni for the Lazy
28. Aristocrats in a Can
29. The Russian Rassole
30. Borscht, with a Side of Emancipation
31. A Relative in Military Jacket
32. Picnic in the Pyrenees
33. Exotic and Stinky
34. Veal Tenderness
35. Enjoy the Steam
36. Neither fish nor fowl
37. The Holiday That Is Always with You
38. The Non-False Non-Hare
39. “Sober Drunkenness”  
40. The First is also the Last
41. The Meaning of Sour Cream
42. Breadslicers at Work
43. The West is Wind, The East is Ecstasy
44. A Toast to Gluttons
Interview with Alexander Genis
Further Reading