Taste of Russia, eat and drink like Russians do

If your day starts with a little hangover, which is normal for St.Petersburg, it is best dealt with dog's hair vodka breakfast at Metropol restaurant, one of oldest establishments, frequented by Rasputin, Soviet leaders and American presidents, which is testified by pictures, hanging on the walls. And if it is not fancy enough for you next stop would be Eliseev brothers food emporium, located in historical art nouveau building on Nevskyi prospect, you would be able to get a little guided tour about the shop and listen to the history of the Eliseev's dynasty, which was started by former serf, who received his fredom and opened a little grocery store, that would to grow into food boutique, importing wholesale harvest of grape and vine from Italy, along with delicatessens from all over the world. After sampling some gourmet food inside the cafe of Eliseev shop, we would continue into Passage shoping mall, comlete with consert hall and the theater, which was one of the first of this kind of new trading establishments/entertaining complex of American type, which would to appear during capitalistic development in the second part of 19 th century. If you are curious about development of drinking habits of Russian people there would be a chance to find out about history of strong liqueur drinks in the Russian Empire and taste some of them in the black and gold Art Deco style interior of the Polugar bar. The word Polugar, comes from Russian and means, the kind of quality test, conducted on the spot for demanding customers, during which the drink is set on fire and if exactly half of it is burned out in the process, testifies its authenticity. This drink is produced according to revived by historian Boris Rodionov old technology, which goes back to heyday of Russian Empire during 18-19 th centuries. All the major Russian writers mentioned it in their books. During those times, there was a certain tradition, to drink by words. Every nobleman had a special list of liqueurs in alphabetical order, depending on the first letter of their particular flavour so in this case guests ordered shots, using this alphabet, which spelled out certain words they wanted to consume. And nowdays just for you they have it in English, so if you think of the word you want to drink, it would be served to you in accordance with the alphabet of different flavours on that list. Little lecture about strong liqueur before vodka is a complement from the barman.