Microwave Popcorn

Microwave popcorn! hehe, maybe you have try it many times, but this is my first try! ^^ kinda good taste but I'd prefer the one which honey-coating =)

IT is wrapped in a small packet when I bought it from Magnesh supermarket. I'd been looking for honey-coated popcorn but only the butter-coated popcorn was available. well, didn't know much about the way to made it for the first time, just follow whatever instruction written on the packet. Pretty good to know that full instruction is clearly stated and popping hints are attached on the packet too!

Here are snapshots taken in sequence of preparation:

It's just easy as 1-2-3, and can be done within 10 minutes. Good choice of healthy snack! =)

Sharvama

One of the most common and famous local food in this little town is called 'sharvama' (in Russian) It is a mix of grilled pork pieces, Korean preservative carrot, mushroom, spring onions, and sometimes French fries or cabbage stripes, together with tomato sauce and mayonnaise, wrapped in a skin(made of flour, well..no idea what it called exactly =p) It is of 2 types, Sharvama lavash(in flour skin) and sharvama butke(in bread).

Ya, it is very similar to the one we've known -- Kebab. Maybe it is originated from kebab, just the people here modify the content and call it 'sharvama'. However, they are not the same, coz kebab has different ingredients and most of them are wrapped with bread. In this town, Kebab is sold at high class food court and restaurant while ppl can buy 'sharvama' from food stall in the market or by the roadside.

It is very delicious and tasty, very tempting food especially if you're hungry. Although the price rises up again last semester, from 30 Rub to 50 Rub (about Rm 7) per piece, but it is still a good choice of meal since eating other outside food here is probably double or triple the price of this (see here for more) I like it very much, so do my groupmates and other ppl here =)

This is one of the most famous sharvama stall, situated at the end corner near the entrance of the market. It gains better reputation over other sharvama stalls because of its special ingredients and spices used in making it. You can smell it from miles away.. ^^

Look at the grilled pork, they look so delicious and smell good!
We'd just ordered 4 sharvamas (me, Eddy, Kelvin and Liew) and this russian lady was busy preparing for it. Just in less than 5 minutes time, we'd our sharvama ready to be taken =D

Ya, one of the sharvama we'd ordered. The shot is not that good pretty much due to the cold windy weather making my hands shivering =s

A must-to-try food if you've chance to visit any part of Russia =)

Local Restaurants

Just wanna share something about eating outside in restaurants here in kursk =)
It is very common and often for everyone of us to eat outside everyday especially if you're busy and have no time to prepare a good meal. Another reason that most ppl choose to have meal outside mainly because of the food is cheap and at reasonable price. Anyway, the story is different here in kursk.

If compared with other Asian countries like Malaysia and phillipine, it is much more expensive to eat outside here in Kursk. We as students here seldom having meal outside except for some birthday parties and special vacations. We rather choose to cook and prepare the food in the hostel, which is really much more cheaper than having it outside.
It is not surprise to spend up to Rm 100 per meal in the restaurant here. Sometimes for having a simple normal meal, you got to spend at least Rm 20, which is just enough to fill up for your stomach. The place where most reasonable price you can get for a meal is university canteen(Stalovaya in russian), of which the food there is partly subsidised by local government.

Some of you might wonder why is it so expensive to eat outside here? Is the food served really worth that much of price? well, in my opinion, I think it is all because of 'class' of the restaurants here. All, if not I bet at least 90% of the restaurants here are all 'High Class' restaurants and they're just so well decorated and looks luxurious. They put lots of efforts and money on designs and decoration, made the restaurants look like 5-star hostel. Food isn't the only main aim for what the restaurant is built, frankly speaking, they aren't really tasty sometimes, just the atmosphere in the restaurants is good and comfortable.



This is the pic of a restaurant nearby a metro station in Moscow. I didn't even dare to have a try after looking at the price.. it costs at least 600 rubs per person for a normal meal.


This is restaurant named Dacha, situated nearby my hostel. Well decorated and nice designs on the wall. Price is still considered ok (if you know what to order =p) and the place is great for group meeting or friends' gathering.




Guess how much is this meal cost? It costs nearly 300 rubs, which is about Rm 45...



Ya, this is part of pizza =)
This semester, I've most of my outside meal here with my groupmates in Broaster n' Baskin Robbins. The food is just nice and the best thing is this pizza, costs only 130 rubs per 8 pieces. Really worth it especially for those who want nice food and yet reasonable price. Kinda cool place for students =)



The prices above are for kursk region only. It is 2x, 3x or even 5x in capital Moscow, the most expensive(living expenses) in the world nowadays, edging out Tokyo, New York and other big cities. (see here to get more info about living costs in Moscow)
So, better make sure the price of the food before having any meal in restaurants here, otherwise you would have to pay an unexpectedly high amount of money just for a normal simple meal.

Sushi Day!

Today I'm really bloated with different kinds of sushi! =) They are really delicious and tasty, and worthy at the same time the price is much more cheaper than that selling outside. Thumb up to those students who prepare it!
In conjuction with MyGame! winter07 price giving ceremony, our Malaysian Students' Association (MSA) has organised such a event called 'Jom Kita makan-makan'. There are about 8 foodstalls of which different kinds of food are sold. There're nasi lemak, nasi campur, various kinds of cakes, egg sambal, indian food, drinks, and of coz my favourite sushi =)
Actually I didnt know what kind of food they're selling before I went there. Thought of going there to receive medal of MyGames! winter07 for 1st runner up in ping pong men's double. The hall was crowded with mostly international students and some russians were there to join the event as well. Such event is seldom seen here but good response from students showing it is a success and worthy to hold it more often =)


I like this one very much! Sushi with prawn, seaweed, cucumber,etc covered superficially by.. hmm should be fish eggs =P


Each set of this costs 160 Rub. This guy bought 5 sets!


Different colours of sushi made of different ingredients, taste very good! =P


Another new tray of green sushi. Previous one sold off in 10 min!

Tang Yuen

It is also known as glutinous rice ball. Tang yuen is usually eaten only on special occassions like the Winter Solstice (Dong Zhi) and on weddings.
Neither both when I eat this, just simply an idea of having different kind of dinner. Ya, I've tang yuen and green bean soup for my dinner today..simple,easy and nice! =D I bought this packet of glutinous rice flour in Moscow during winter break and this rice flour might be too common to get in your place, but you'll never find one in Kursk. That's why make it so precious =p
No special recipe used, just simply add adequate water to the rice flour, then make it into round oval shape and put them one by one into a rapidly boiling water. Stir few times to prevent sticking together, and after 5-6 min when you see them floating, it is ready to be served. You can either serve it in soup or with grinded groundnut+sugar, like what I used to do =)
Actually there are many ways of making various kinds of delicious and colourful tang yuen (like pork filled tanh yuen, black sesame seed tang yuen, black sesame soup, etc) the one i made is the simplest plain tang yuen =p


Tang yuen mixed with grinded nuts, believe me it's nice! ^^


Full and bloated after eating, although not so well-mixed, but it tastes great =)


Colourful tang yuen soup











-Late post-