World Cup fans love Russian, Georgian, Uzbek and Azerbaijani food, from luxurious caviar to common veal tongue. Indians and Mexicans not so impressed
Russian food may have a reputation for being bland and heavy, but as World Cup fans are finding out, that is unfair. With dishes from near neighbours such as Uzbekistan and Georgia also on the menus, diners are spoiled for choice
Many soccer fans knew little or nothing about Russian cuisine before the World Cup, but have tucked into local gastronomy with relish, trying everything from luxurious caviar to staples like veal tongue.
Russian food is often thought of as bland and heavy, and indeed many dishes seem geared towards getting people through the gruelling winter rather than amusing their palates.
“I love it, honestly. It’s better than I expected. I don’t like spicy food myself so for me it was perfect,” says Morsy as he peruses a restaurant menu in the sweltering southern city of Volgograd.
“The whole country has exceeded my expectations. I had never been to Russia before, I thought the people would be grumpy and the country not that organised,” he says.
Indeed, most fans have been impressed by Russians – some in remote or industrial towns where tourists rarely tread – bending over backwards to help, dispelling preconceptions and spreading an upbeat atmosphere.
