Food: Russian pizza, why not?

Not your typical pizza

In Russia, if it’s not homemade, every feasible part of it, it’s not up to par. Thus, everything usually has few preservatives or none at all, is pretty healthy and is all homemade and homegrown. Take this pizza for example: what can be made at home, is. Coming to Russia you might expect bland food and to eat it in the freezing Siberian cold with a fur coat and a building decorated with red stars and pictures of Lenin from the Soviet period. Such is not the case. Instead, food is flavorful, if it’s properly done–by a babushka!

Thus, I present to you, homemade Russian pizza. Trust me, it is completely unlike any pizza you have ever eaten before. Why? Well the toppings are not traditional. What are they, you ask? *Besides the dough, of course*

• Brown tomato sauce–it was incredibly smooth sauce, with just a hint of sugar.
• Stewed-down cucumbers and onions–this was an interesting addition. How to cook? Place finely chopped onions and cucumbers in a fry pan over medium heat and watch the flavors meld together!
• Meat of any kind–the meat on these pizzas was a sausage of sorts, kind of like a ham, but simply cut up into cubes and you’re good to go!
• Chopped tomatoes fresh from the garden–oh yes. Traditional? Not really. Tasty? Absolutely.
• Freshly shredded mozzarella cheese–on these mini pizzas, a little cheese goes a long way. Let the vegetables speak for themselves!
• Dill–what is a Russian dish without dill?! Freshly cut dill sprinkled (or heaped, in my opinion) onto the pizza is the way to go!
• Mayonnaise–definitely the strangest of all the toppings. I have never had a pizza with mayo, but to be honest, it was not that bad, actually pretty good. Make sure though to eat the pizza hot, cold mayo on pizza tastes slightly weird.

This is not a typical American pizza to say the least, as evidenced by the toppings. However, in my opinion, it is probably the healthiest pizza I have ever eaten, as well as the most vegetables I have ever eaten in one bite.

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Had some strange pizza toppings? Love this kind of pizza? Want to learn more? Comment below, I’d love to hear your opinion!

Fall Travel: What I wore

My travel essentials… slightly overexposed

So. Let’s get down to it. A very common question that is uttered by most people every day is: What should I wear? Now, when it comes to traveling, that question becomes oh so important. Why? Because you’re going to have to pack, and you’re going to have to wear what you pack, thus, you’ll have to like what you pack and be able to wear what you pack. Therefore, take it from a girl who just traveled–me!

What are my essentials, when it comes to clothes? KEEP IT SIMPLE.

• Collared shirts, jeans and a belt. I brought with me three collared shirts, two pairs of jeans and one belt. Collared shirts, even if they are wrinkled and worn, are still classy and chic if you don’t tuck them in to your jeans. When you tuck them in, you exude power and oh, by the way, it shows off your waist. 🙂
• BRING A JACKET. Although, I will say, Europe was abnormally cold for this time of year. Some nights on my way home, I was freezing to death thanks to cold rain, wind and a low temperature. Therefore, while in Vienna, I purchased a Loden wool coat, and I could not have been happier and cozier for the rest of my trip.
• *Oh, running shoes, you’re so not stylish, but you’re SO COMFORTABLE* Make sure you bring outrageously comfortable shoes. In the beginning, I sacrificed comfort for fashion, and ended up hobbling around. As soon as I could, I bought a pair of running shoes that I normally wear, and finally I could walk. Don’t hobble, take comfort over fashion (unless you’re going to fashion week).

How about those all important accessories? Bling bling everywhere? HAHA, NO.

• Bring a watch. I am very partial to my watches and I always wear one. I took a very classic watch that could be paired with anything, and could not have been happier. Sometimes, your phone may die (mine didn’t, but hear me out), and thus, you’ll rely on your watch to tell you the time.
• I love, love, love my little mini bag. It’s a trio bag with each compartment completely zipped for added security, and let’s just say, I couldn’t open it very well one handed, so it’s tough to get into. *take that, pickpockets!* It’s the perfect size for cash, cards, a phone, some receipts, a passport and more. Additionally, mine has the ability to come apart, so I technically have two clutches and one bag. Also, it’s very simple and doesn’t scream *look at me! look at me!*
• Finally, take Rhianna’s advice from way back when and get an umbrella. The rain followed me everywhere, and finally, after being soaked 50 times, I caved and bought one. Hoods can work in light rain, but during torrential downpours, break out the umbrella.

At the end of the day, travel is about having fun and creating great memories through amazing experiences. Make sure that you help those along by being comfortable. Uncomfortable clothes or accessories can make you remember a trip or occasion for most of the wrong reasons.

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Vogue’s Fashion’s Night Out: Moscow

 

Exclusive t-shirts for sale at Tsvetnoy Univermag, Moscow

 
On September 3rd, Vogue Russia hosted Fashion’s Night Out in Moscow, in three different spaces, though the two most popular were TSUM, the gloriously uber-high fashion mecca next to the Bolshoi theater, and Tsvetnoy Universal Market, a six/seven storey building with a food market/mini cafe at the top, and much fashion for the whole family on the lower floors. 

Let’s just say the night was both spectacular and underwhelming all at the same time, but shortly you’ll see my reasoning. Bad news first, I guess? Let’s rip it off like a bandaid. Well, both places that I went, TSUM and Tsvetnoy, were incredibly crowded–that’s a good thing… For Vogue and the stores themselves. Additionally, there were many glamorous exclusives for the night, and only that night. This was both a good and saddening thing, but I’ll explain. Online, when Vogue Russia published all of the exclusives in the respective stores, there was great lighting, perhaps some photoshop… Case and point, you wanted those exclusives, including every single one of the 13 exclusive t-shirts designed by Russian designers on sale for the night. Then, you get to FNO Moscow and the exclusive items in person are very meh. In additon to finding out that not all 13 shirts are for sale, and good luck trying to locate the ones for sale in the stores… Plus, they were (mostly) victims of looking amazing… online. 

The pretty cool things about FNO Moscow? Well, the t-shirts. After a while of looking at them, they actually were pretty cool in person, but some of them… I just couldn’t come to call them fashion, but that’s just my taste. The celebrities, models, and Vogue personel… Alright, I know of a lot of Russian celebrities, but I don’t know them all. Some people you looked at, you just instantly knew they were someone great. Others, like models–ahem, ahem, Natasha Poly (my biggest model crush) was there–are more obvious to spot. And of course, due to it’s sponsorship by Vogue, Vogue Russia editors were all over, and that was pretty darn awesome. Other than that, you could get free ice cream and bubbly, some balloons, and some brands were offering 10% off during the night. 

Overall, was it a grand success? Well, in my opinion, not really. I see why the New York Fashion’s Night Out fizzled. In the end, it’s just another night of shopping where the well-heeled come to flaunt their plastic cards and the buff men see who can carry the most shopping bags. Yes, it has loud music and free ice cream and bubbly, some free manicures, rides in Audis, and some celebrity sightings, but it’s not much different from a normal day out in Moscow. Would I go again? Most certainly, it’s a place to see and be seen, it’s in Moscow, and at the end of the day, it’s a fashion holiday–I can certainly make room for that. 

More pictures from the night 

A fashion installation in TSUM Moscow

  
The installations, for the most part were great! Super cutting edge, but some left me wondering, who would wear these outfits put together like this? However, the individual pieces… stunning..

Crowds, upon crowds, upon crowds..

 This was taken at Tsvetnoy Univermag… If you can imagine, TSUM was even more packed, and here at Tsvetnoy, as the night went on, space became more and more precious. 

Travel: Food (Russia)

  
Over the next few weeks, my posts will be largely centered around food, though I’ll make sure to throw in some fashion, don’t worry. It is always a great day/time when I return to Russia, for more than one reason, but the primary reason is FOOD!!!! When my babushka cooks, oh my god, I have died and gone to heaven, even though I’m force fed every two seconds because I look “thin” or “winter is coming” among other reasons. 

Although this post is not about my babushka’s cooking yet, (they will come), this is the amazingness of hotel room service. Thus, may I present to you Siberian pelmeni, which are the Russian version of dumplings with a soft, slightly chewy dough and filled with a mix of meats, onions and few spices–lamb and beef usually (for Siberian pelmeni). 

These (pelmeni) are a staple of the traditional Russian diet, they are served hot, (these are in a beef broth of sorts) and are garnished with everything from dill (super Russian) to sour cream (also super Russian). In my opinion, pelmeni are light, you can eat hundreds (not really) of them, and they are so incredibly delicious! Although I can buy frozen ones at home in America, or make some myself, which is a lengthy, time consuming process, nothing beats свежие домашние пельмени (fresh, homemade pelmeni).

P.S. Oh my god, they were so delicious…. Can I take them home with me? About 100lbs worth? Winter is coming. 

Food: Clean eating

NOM NOM NOM

I love to eat, plain and simple. Before moving to college, I was super picky, but I have since lost that, and have tried many, many foods that I’ve found to be amazing. There’s one meal, however, that I could eat all day every day and never get sick of–smoked salmon tartines and tart lemonade from Le Pain Quotidien. Super fresh, super scrumptious, super healthy, simply awesome.

This dish relatively super healthy because it includes good fats from avocado, omega-3 from the smoked salmon, grains from the soft, daily baked bread, freshness from the raw cucumbers and radishes, vitamin C from the lemon, and there has to be something great about dill and scallions, other than their taste. Not only is the dish healthy, fresh, and clean, it is SO delicious, very quick, and always puts a smile on your face. Plus, you don’t feel like you need to go to the gym after.

The second part to one of my favorite meals is Le Pain Quotidien’s lemonade. It’s fresh squeezed, and if you immediately start drinking it, prepare to pucker your lips–it is very tart, but that’s okay, it’s made with REAL lemons. One way to combat this is to mix in your own amount of agave syrup, a natural sweetener, that is at every table. The agave syrup is to the lemonade like ketchup is to fries.

Most of all, the drink and dish are simple, made of simple, fresh ingredients and that, in a world of fast food and fried everything, is a great, welcoming change.

Luckily for you, Le Pain Quotidien restaurants seem to be in a lot of cities these days, so you can go and try them for yourselves! Have you ever been to a Le Pain Quotidien? Also love smoked salmon dishes? Just wanna comment? Go ahead!

**Disclaimer: This is my own, personal take on Le Pain Quotidien. There is no compensation, and I only wrote this because I had a great meal with great service**

Photo source: my phone!

Lifestyle: Flowers? Yes.

When in doubt, get flowers

For the past few months, I have been trying to give my man hints that I like flowers and I want them every once in a while (although I think I need to come right out and say it to his face in plain language). I drop the hints while in a store, “ooh! I love these flowers!” “hey, smell these,” “these flowers are gorgeous!” Anyways, he hasn’t gotten the hint. *ahem, please, for your sake, get the hint* Therefore, this post is dedicated to all those out there wondering about a gift to get, just a little something to say they care, or those simply trying to brighten up a space.

In my heritage, flowers are the go-to gift for welcoming someone, being welcomed, or for pretty much any and every occasion. I grew up around a myriad of plants, flowers, and I planted flowers every single year, so I love to go into a grocery store and marvel at the gorgeous natural pigments and fragrances of the flowers. But why are flowers such a symbol of care and love? For the most part, flowers are easily accessible and affordable (with the exception being roses from a florist around Valentine’s day). Also, flowers are everywhere, meaning, you could be walking around and see a flower growing out of the ground. If you picked it and gave it to someone, it’s like a warmth of love overcomes them because it’s the thought that counts.

So, guys (and girls), how do you go about picking flowers? It’s as simple as one, two, three.

1. Do your research. Okay, this is sneaky, but it works all the time. If my man brought me carnations, I would not be happy–thought or no thought. Roses? Eh. Lilies, hydrangeas, gladiolus? Happy! So, this is how you approach it:
   1. Go to a grocery store where there is a large or good-sized flower section–it’s a neutral space.
   2. Find some flower and say, “oh, I really like these, what do you think of these?” Or see what flowers she/he hangs around.
   3. She/he responds with flower preferences, because you proposed a simple, general question.
   4. Voila! You know what flowers she/he likes!
2. Find the freshest. This is very important. You want fresh flowers that aren’t wilted so that they last a relatively long time. Look at the flowers. If they hang down or are starting to turn brown, forget them! You want crisp flowers. Then, load up on the flower food packets, and when you get home snip the ends of the flower stems. A cut stem allows the flower to drink more water. Also, take off the leaves (of say, roses), because leaves drink water that should go to the flower.
3. Bring on the cute. This is the MOST IMPORTANT PART. Put the flowers in a nice vase, or wrapper, or a Ball mason jar (for you trendy peeps). *the great things about mason jars is that you can use them as vases, jars for makeup brushes, drinking cups, or you can bake/can with them* Then! Get super cute and surprise your significant other or friend with flowers. It’s a great, heartfelt gesture that will be remembered.

Okay, flowers don’t last forever. But, I guarantee that the flowers will light up a space and comfort people/make them happier for the time that they are alive. Also, some people really like dried flowers, so you never know.

In summation, WHEN IN DOUBT, GET FLOWERS.

If you want the perfect outfit to accompany those flowers, look no further than Dose.nyc, where you can get the fashion you want at the prices you want!

Photo source: Vogue