American Dining: Breakfast

[peacetraveler22]

Comments

[mybathroom]

Such a tasty post, Shannon!
What does "bottomless coffee" mean?

[peacetraveler22]

"Bottomless coffee" means endless coffee (free refills!). At this restaurant, and some others, if you order coffee the waitress brings your own carafe and sits it at the table. Like in this photo. So you can fill your cup whenever you like, and don't have to wait on the server to return. One thing that drives me crazy in Russian restaurants is how long it takes to get drinks!! Sometimes they weren't delivered until our meals arrived. In America, you get your drinks right after you place your order, and many waitresses bring you water as soon as you sit down.

[qi_tronic]

Drinks are the things on which restaurants make money...
For example, a teapot of rather good tea costs from 100 to 200 roubles and more.
For that price I can buy a pack of tea of the same quality in a supermarket and it will last for weeks :)
I understand that food needs cooking and serving but drinks are pure win for them.

BTW I wouldn't drink such filtered coffee even if I'm paid for it.
Espresso in Starbucks and it's competitors rule :)

[peacetraveler22]

This is especially true for alcoholic beverages!! I remember in St. Petersburg I went to a cafe because I was desperate to use wifi. It was fancy, but right beside the hotel and I didn't really pay attention to the prices. I ordered a mint tea, and they brought me a whole pot! Charged me around $9 USD. Insane! I don't like Starbucks coffee. It's too expensive and strong. I know many foreigners think American coffee is like drinking water, because overseas it is typically much stronger.

[ambival]

It seems to me that Russians eat at home more often than most Americans. We have many food markets or shops where you can buy whatever you want, and lots of special kitchen devices too ... so why not cook your breakfast by yourself? We can eat good and healthy food cooked by mom not by unknown stranger :-)))

[peacetraveler22]

Same markets are here in America, but sometimes it's nice to have others do the work. :)

[inescher]

Thanks for your post. I'll try to find this restaurant in our area.
Just in case. :) I like to cook by myself for my family and friends.

American pancakes and Russian "pancakes" are different. Typical Russian "bliny" close to French crêpes not to pancakes. Also in Russia/Ukraine/Belorussia, and other countries people eat "oladushki" or "olad'i". That is kind of similar to American pancakes but not the same.

French toasts also have similar but not the same version. It called "grenki" and made from slice of bread dipped in egg (not just egg yolk) or mix egg and milk and then pan fried.
A lot of people eat "grenki" with meat or cheese, or even just as is but I've never seen somebody who ate them with powdered sugar. Usually this dish is not sweet at all.

[peacetraveler22]

Bob Evans is mostly on the East Coast. I checked the website and don't see any in Massachusetts. My aunt lives in California, and this is the first place she always wants to eat when she visits because they don't have them there. I've never seen this good "grenki," but I've eaten a lot of Russian bliny and crepes in Europe. :)

[inescher]

Perfect. Now I know where to eat when I'll visit other places of EC. :))))

You should know that Russian cuisine culture is different. "Grenki" is not restaurant food. Usually it's home-breakfast that moms do for kids. :)
I make it for my family (sometimes) and my kids (especially the youngest one) like to eat it with hot chocolate milk ("kakao" ).
Did you eat "oladi" and "syrniki"? Bliny is so traditional. You should try it during Maslennica and they should be home-made. :)))

[peacetraveler22]

What about I.H.O.P.? Certainly you have this restaurant in your area. This is my other favorite place for breakfast, but it's always too crowded on weekends. :) I've not eaten much home made food in Russia, because I'm usually in hotels there or on the road traveling. Next time, readers can invite me for a home made meal. :))

[sineglazzka2301]

A good post to read at 23:20 by a person desperately fighting with late meals:)))) Now I'll have to grab all my will not to go hunting to the kitchen

[peacetraveler22]

We eat in kasha in the U.S. also. :) And we love omelettes! My dad makes the best ones, light and fluffy. You can also order omelettes at any American restaurant, all different styles with some odd ingredients. We like Mexican/Southwestern food here, so there are some omelettes with salsa, chicken, onions, jalepenos, covered with a lot of cheese and sour cream. Veggie omelettes are also very popular. The carnivores like to cover the dish with steak and other meats. Look at this monster, from another popular American restaurant. :))

[sineglazzka2301]

A monster, really:)) I've been told that helpings in the USA are bigger than in Russia, and your photos only confirm this. If I ate this one for breakfast, I'd be lying half dead for the rest of the day. Grunting, probably:)) However for a big man the size might be ok.
And how do you call kasha in America? What cereals are mostly used to cook it? My daughter wonders, says it might be useful for her English classes.

[peacetraveler22]

We call it the same - "Kasha." :)) It seems to me that large portions are spreading across the globe. I think in Russia, at least at the places I ate, the portions where big (but not as large as USA). Here are two examples of Kasha brands you can buy in the U.S. I don't like buckwheat, so I never eat or buy these products.

[pin_gwin]

American pan-cakes are not BLINY. They should be translated as Olad'yi( Оладьи). Блины are normally thin, but that is just related, but different meal. Some consider Оладьи to be less sophisticated to cook. That is why they are so industrialized in US

[peacetraveler22]

Hmm, I don't know this Russian dish "Оладьи," but it looks similar to our pancakes. I've eaten something like this in Russia, but it was made with sweet cheese. Delicious!

[pin_gwin]

Likely it was syrnik, mostly of a mix of cottage cheese, flour and eggs

[peacetraveler22]

Yes, that's it! I just googled and saw a photo of the dish. I like it very much, and always eat it in airport cafes in Russia while I'm waiting for my return flight home.