Thread: Russian drinking traditions

I have a question.
What do Russians eat with vodka.
More specifically, when toasting at a party.
I've heard a piece of blackbread with salt pork.
I'm going to my russian teacher's house for a year-end party and want to take something to have with the Vodka.
Thanks!

Sniff some salted fish or bread. Don't eat

Or you can wimp out with some томатный сок (before and after the vodka) but whatever you do, don't мешать, это не по-русски (русскому?)

I've always used rye bread & pickles with my Russian friends...

(do Russians still blow out forcefully before they drink vodka, or is that something in the past, ie. Иван Василиевич: Меняет Профессию)
-Fantom

Bread and salt is very ancient tradition, I think. For instance, I prefer something hot like roasted meat or boiled potato. To wimp out (It means запивать, doesn't it? Or "wash down with" is more appropriate phrase?) with something -- bad form, but sometimes it's really easier to drink vodka with tomato or other juice But don't make cocktails with vodka! Sometimes Russians drink krovavaya Mary (vodka + tomato juice) or yersh (vodka + beer), but it's really stunning drinking

And the best thing with vodka is a pickled cucumber. Ummm...

Originally Posted by pranki

And the best thing with vodka is a pickled cucumber. Ummm...

Do you mean a pickle?
Any specific kind?

I always prefer kosher dill opposed to any other kind. The saltier the better!
-Fantom

Originally Posted by fantom605

I've always used rye bread & pickles with my Russian friends...

(do Russians still blow out forcefully before they drink vodka, or is that something in the past, ie. Иван Василиевич: Меняет Профессию)
-Fantom

My Russian friends still do the exhale ritual prior to taking a shot.

Originally Posted by Denise

Originally Posted by pranki

And the best thing with vodka is a pickled cucumber. Ummm...

Do you mean a pickle?

Yes, but as I know, this word has many different meanings for instance water from the jar of pickled vegetables (рассол in Russian). I meant marinaded or salted cucumber. OK, it name is a pickle, but I didn't want, you translate it as рассол.
Generally marinaded or salted vegetables (especially cucumbers, tomatos and cabbage) are traditional and the most popular dish with vodka.

BTW, don't think that all Russians drink vodka. Yes, it's national drink, but it is considered as "heavy" drink, and not all Russians like it.

Russian vodka - black bread, селедка.

"Заметьте, Иван Арнольдович: холодными закусками и супом закусывают только недорезанные большевиками помещики. Мало-мальски уважающий себя человек оперирует с закусками горячими". (Михаил Булгаков. "Собачье сердце")
Sorry, I can't translate it, help, somebody!

But, Bloody Mary cocktail "a'la russie" is, indeed, a layered short drink with tomato juice at the bottom and clear vodka on the top. Don't mix! Mixed BM - is an international style BM. Not cool .

Originally Posted by Denise

What do Russians eat with vodka.

It reminds me the old Russian joke:

В ресторане.
Посетитель: Мне, пожалуйста, литр водки.
Официант: А что кушать будете?
Посетитель: Вот её, родимую, и буду кушать...

Originally Posted by Denise

I have a question.
What do Russians eat with vodka.
More specifically, when toasting at a party.
I've heard a piece of blackbread with salt pork.
I'm going to my russian teacher's house for a year-end party and want to take something to have with the Vodka.
Thanks!

Very few Russians drink vodka. You're bound to look a right berk turning up at your teacher's vodka bottle in hand if he/she happens to be teatotal like muggins here.

It's actually "teetotal", VM. Understandable mistake given that your version has some kind of logic to it.
I only point it out because you made that error before.

Some people say:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-tee1.htm

Maybe I just hang out with a lightweight crowd but only the men drink vodka and only on special holidays or celebrations. A woman throwing back shots would be considered low culture.

Originally Posted by waxwing

It's actually "teetotal", VM. Understandable mistake given that your version has some kind of logic to it.
I only point it out because you made that error before.

Sneaky f...ng English language! Thanks for the correction, waxwing.

Originally Posted by pranki

Bread and salt is very ancient tradition, I think. For instance, I prefer something hot like roasted meat or boiled potato. To wimp out (It means запивать, doesn't it? Or "wash down with" is more appropriate phrase?) with something -- bad form, but sometimes it's really easier to drink vodka with tomato or other juice But don't make cocktails with vodka! Sometimes Russians drink krovavaya Mary (vodka + tomato juice) or yersh (vodka + beer), but it's really stunning drinking

And the best thing with vodka is a pickled cucumber. Ummm...

to wash down with. Usually in english, we would say to chase. You take the shot and chase it with juice or whatever. The juice is chasing the shot (following it). The juice would be called a chaser.

Originally Posted by drew881

Originally Posted by pranki

The juice would be called a chaser.

In Russian - "запивка"

Originally Posted by JB

Maybe I just hang out with a lightweight crowd but only the men drink vodka and only on special holidays or celebrations. A woman throwing back shots would be considered low culture.

Well, I drink vodka only in cocktails or at funerals (it's a n old tradition).