Билет №11 Food. Belarusian Cuisine

Билет № 7. Belarusian Cuisine

Let’s talk about Belarusian national cuisine (food). What can you tell me about eating habits in Belarus?

Do you like cooking? Why (not)?

What questions will you ask a friend who has invited you to a pot-luck party?

What national dishes can you recommend a tourist to taste in Belarus?

Can you tell me how to cook one of your favourite dishes?

Let’s talk about Belarusian national cuisine (food). What can you tell me about eating habits in Belarus?

Modern Belarusian cookery is based on old national traditions. Dishes from potatoes are very common in Belarusian cuisine. Potatoes are called ”the second bread” in Belarus. Potatoes are included into many salads, served together with mushrooms and meat; different pies and baked puddings are made from it. The most popular among the Belarusians are traditional draniki, thick pancakes, prepared from shredded potatoes. A lot of place in the diet of the Belarusians belongs to meat and meat products, especially to the pork and salted pork fat. The salted pork fat is used slightly smoked and seasoned with onions and garlic. Dishes prepared from meat are usually served together with potatoes or vegetables such as carrot, cabbage, black radish, peas, etc. Belarusian national cuisine also offers fresh, dried, salted and pickled mushrooms and also various berries such as bilberry, strawberries, raspberries, cranberry and some others. An integral part of any dinner is soup. It can be hot or cold. Belarusians are fond of borscht, a thick and rich beet and cabbage soup made with grains, potato and meat. The Belarusian khaladnik , a cold borscht made of beets, beet leaves and served with sour cream, hard-boiled eggs, and boiled potatoes will be pleasant on a hot summer day. Another popular Belarusian dishes are “zatsirka” and “krupnik” (soup made from cereals). Every possible salads are prepared from cabbage, carrots, beans.

Do you like cooking? Why? Why not?

A. Yes, I do. My mother is a very good cook and she taught me to cook pizza, pancakes and roast chicken.

B. In fact, I don’t like cooking. I think it’s boring. My mum does it better. I only help her in the kitchen.

C. No, to tell the truth I don’t like cooking. It takes a lot of time and frankly speaking I am not very good at cooking and my dishes are not always tasty.

What questions can you ask a friend who has invited you to a pot-luck party?

I have never been to a potluck party. It’s probably amazing. Of course I will have to find out some things beforehand:

- What is the theme of your potluck party?

- How many people have you invited to the party?

- Are you going to make a list of dishes?

What dish shall I bring?

Where will the party take place?

Shall I bring some plates or cups?

Shall I bring some drinks?

Who else is invited to the party?

What national dishes can you recommend a tourist to taste in Belarus?

When people come from other countries they usually look for something special and traditional in this country. So I think it would be a good idea to recommend them to eat our draniki. To my mind this dish is a speciality of our country, it is delicious. You can also taste borchs and holodnik.

Can you tell me how to cook one of your favourite dishes?

Frankly speaking I am not very fond of cooking but I can tell you how to prepare draniki. First you should peel some potatoes, then you should grate them, add an egg , some flour, some salt, mix everything and make little pancakes on a frying pan. Serve your draniki hot with sour cream. Bon appetite!

I know how to cook zatsirka. The recipe of this old Belarusian dish is quiet simple. Mix the flour with eggs and a little water. Divide the butter into small pieces and boil in milk blended with water. Add sugar, salt and butter.

Билет №11 Food. Belarusian Cuisine

1. Let’s talk about food. What can you tell me about Belarusian national cuisine?

2. Do you like cooking? Why? Why not?

3. What questions will you ask a British friend about their eating habits?

4. Which cafes would you recommend to visit in your place? Why?

5. A lot of people refuse to have meals at school. What do you think about it?