[Sca-cooks] "Zakuska" table

[Susan Lin]

 I should also mention (now that I am not on a hand-held device) that while
> the term itself came into use "out of period" the idea of a Zakuska table is
> quite old.
>
> When visitors arrived it was always customary - even in the poorest
> families to welcome them with bread and salt.  That hospitality morphed into
> providing other items to taste.
>
> This eventually became elaborate meals before the meal.  I'm not sure how
> they managed to keep eating but I'm guessing that without
> TV/DVD/PlayStations, etc. they had much more time to devote to eating and
> visiting.
>
> I agree that the beverages were/are vodka, coffee and tea.  Also, Kvas - a
> lightly fermented drink originally made with leftover bread.
>
> Yes - we referred to it as a Russian smorgasbord as well as Russian Tapas.
>
> I was surprised by how many people enjoyed the pickled tongue!  I grew up
> with it as a child but I was sure I'd be able to take most of it home
> (nope!)
>
> I love making (as my family would say) "cute food" so I was in my glory
> with the Zakuska table.
>
> Oh, and for the caviar we served - we went totally anachronistic and used
> "Cavi-Art" a vegan caviar - it was just for affect and it is surprisingly
> "okay" and costs a heck of a lot less!
>
> -S
>
>   On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 6:55 AM, Susan Lin <susanrlin at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> sorry, I do not often read email on the weekend.
>>
>> The term "zakuska" became popular as Stefan said in the late 1700 -
>> 1800.  It was put out before the meal.  It could be a cold table or
>> hot or a combination.
>>
>> As it was described by a Russian friend - it is the meal before the
>> meal.  Full of little bites.
>>
>> I used it as a lunch/sideboard so hopefully there would still be room
>> for dinner.
>>
>> I made all sorts of pickled things as well as soups and hot items.
>> I'm happy to share the menu should anyone like.
>>
>> Shoshanna
>>
>> On 2/22/09, Stefan li Rous <StefanliRous at austin.rr.com> wrote:
>> > Bear replied to me with:
>> > <<< What's a "Zakuska" table?
>> > Stefan >>>
>> >
>> > It's a snack table or smorgasbord.  The word derives from the Russian
>> > verb
>> > "zakusit'," "to take a small bite."  It's unclear just when the practice
>> > developed, but I suspect the modern Zakuska table dates from the 18th
>> > Century when Russia began to embrace European modernity.
>> >
>> > Bear
>> > ----------
>> >
>> > So is this more like a buffet? or a sideboard or something else?
>> >
>> > Shoshanna sounded like she did one during or in addition to a Russian
>> > themed feast. So, Shoshanna, was this more like a tasting-table or a
>> > sideboard? Both of which we've discussed here, or was it something else?
>> >
>> > Stefan
>> >
>> > In the FEASTS section of the Florilegium:
>> > dayboards-msg     (62K)  2/20/08    SCA dayboards, middle-of-the-day
>> > meals.
>> > tasting-tabls-msg  (8K) 11/28/07    Introducing people to medieval
>> > foods using
>> >                                         food samples and tasting tables.
>> > --------
>> > THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
>> >     Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas
>> > StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
>> > **** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org****
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
>>
>
>