Topic 44: what would you treat a foreign guest to?

I think that inviting a foreigner for lunch requires a lot of forward planning. On the one hand, food should be delicious. On the other hand, this lunch should give the foreign guest a clear idea of what Russian cuisine is really like. According to the best traditions of Russian hospitality the most important thing for a host or hostess is to treat guests to something special.

My meal would consist of three courses. For the first course I would serve shchi or borshch. They are most often associated with Russian cuisine. It would be a good idea to eat the Russian national dish with home-made sour cream. After eating the cabbage soup with a good appetite we would move on to the second course. I think it would be pelmenis with home-made butter. I would sprinkle the pelmeni with pepper and dill. The first and the second course would be eaten with brown bread. I would give my foreign guests end pieces. For dessert I would serve some herb tea. I am good at making it, even if I say it myself. I usually mix peppermint, raspberry and currant leaves and origanum. I would use our samovar for the occasion. I would also treat my guests to Russian blinis and strawbwerry jam. My granny’s blinis are just to die for. I think that my guests would enjoy the meal. I would also like to give my guests some presents. It would be wooden khokhloma spoons and jars of pickled tomatoes and cucumbers. My mum is very good at pickling vegetables for the winter.