International cuisines you can try in Kazakhstan

Since Kazakhstan is a multinational state (Kazakhs, Russians, Greeks, Tatars, Uyghurs, Koreans, Germans, and many other nationalities live together so peacefully and harmoniously), various cuisines of the world are presented here extensively. Contrary to popular belief, gastronomic predilections are not limited to traditional Kazakh food or Oriental food. That’s why in any city of this huge country there are many cafes, restaurants, and other dining places where you can try dishes popular in various and remote parts of the world. Russian, European, Oriental, Asian, Pan-Asian, and even American cuisine – however, strictly well-defined or gourmet taste preferences you have, there you will definitely find something suitable for you. Clearly, a “cherry on top” of this gastronomic variety is traditional Kazakh food that conveys national flavour of the steppe to the full.

Russian Cuisine

It is worth to start with Russian national cuisine, as due to several centuries of tight cultural interaction between two states, it had taken deep root in every day’s local life. Because of its simplicity and nutritiousness, Russian food is a big part of daily meal of every Kazakhstani citizen. Moreover, Russian dishes are widely served in many restaurants where these are prepared in accordance with age-old traditions and old recipes with the addition of original ingredients.

What are these dishes and what is possible to try in Kazakhstan?

The way of life and geographical location played an important role in shaping daily meal in ancient Russia: mushrooms, fish, various grains, vegetables and meat were stewed, baked, simmered in jugs placed in huge stove right in the middle of izba (national Russian wooden house):

• Like in any national cuisine, a meal is served in several courses. The first course is a traditional Russian soup – borsch (beetroot-cabbage soup), ukha (fish soup), shchi (vegetable soup), rassolnik (meat/fish soup with pickled cucumbers) – rich and fragrant, based on triple broth, served with a sour cream and a piece of fresh bread. The second course are, usually, pelmeni (meat dumplings), cow-heel, flesh of pike, stewed sturgeon, famous Russian meat pies and mushrooms pies.
• Of course, we can’t do without desserts and delicacies. Hardly anybody could resist soft lacy bliny (pancakes with honey, jam, red or black caviar), sweet kalach (sweet soft white bread), pryaniki (cookies in crispy syrup), pastila (colourful fruit and berries paste), and baked berries and fruits.
• Traditional Russian drinks are equally tasty: refreshing kwas (mildly alcoholic drink made from fermented rye bread), spicy and hot sbeeten (mulled honey drink), fragrant mors (fruit or berry drink) with light sour taste, and spirit-lifting medovukha (or honey wine).

After such meal you can’t be bothered doing anything, but just sitting and having a slow talk, enjoying your feeling of fullness and satisfaction from tasty dishes.

European Cuisine

Considering European Cuisine in Kazakhstan, we can definitely say, that it has become quite popular and demanded by local people long time ago. Almost every third dining place concentrates on cuisines of such European countries as Germany, Czech Republic, Ireland, England, Italy, and France. Of course, a menu is usually consists of dishes that are in comply with firmly established taste preferences of Kazakh people so they could accept and appreciate offered gastronomic specialties.

Which European dishes is it possible to try in the centre of Eurasia?

Dishes that come to our mind in the first instance have become quite banal like, for example, French-style meat, Italian pizza and pasta, Greek salad, and many other dishes that are served in any restaurant of the world. But the restaurant industry in Kazakhstan is rapidly developing so, in order to stir up interest of demanding folks, chefs are always entering new dishes in menus, broadening the range of dishes and improving menus in aspiration to comply with European standard. And, we must admit, they have succeeded in this!

• In cozy Italian restaurants you will be offered bruschetta (grilled bread rubbed with garlic and usually topped with tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper) with various fillings, delicious types of cheese and antipasto (cold and hot appetizers), great variety of pasta (from Carbonara to Fettuccine), risotto (rice dish with the addition of broth), ravioli (dumplings usually served with a pasta sauce), pizza on thin dough, beef ossobuco (cross-cut veal shanks braised with vegetables, white wine and broth), and many other traditional dishes.