January 05, 2022

Charcuterie à la 1984


Charcuterie à la 1984
Attack on snacks Управление Россельхознадзора по Свердловской области on YouTube

On December 29, the Sverdlovsk Region Administration of Rosselkhoznadzor (Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) posted a video of the burning of three hundred kilograms of sausage, ham, and cheese.

Officials posted the 18-minute video of the gustatory tragedy after the delectables were discovered during an inspection of the PolonAmbar store in Yekaterinburg. Some items came from countries whose products have been counter sanctioned by a 2014 decree of the President of the Russian Federation; others were of unknown origin.

The counter-sanctions are related to sanctions issued in response to the Ukraine conflict. The embargoes were rolled out in three stages: in 2014, products from the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada, and Norway were banned; controls on items from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Albania, and Montenegro followed in 2015; and in 2016, Russia stopped the import of certain items from Ukraine.

It looks like Dmitry Nazarov, the store’s owner, won’t be bringing home the bacon this year. On top of his estimated half-million-ruble ($660) loss of product, he might also owe a fine of up to twenty thousand rubles ($650) under Article 10.8 Part 1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

It’s not just poor Dmitry, folks. Rather than being enjoyed in proper New Year’s fashion, the tastiest of treats ended up cremated. But like the Russians say, “as you meet the New Year, you will spend it.” Perhaps best to clear out the larder early in preparation for a fresh start.

You Might Also Like

The Patty Shop
  • January 01, 2020

The Patty Shop

In Russia, a bus ride is always more than a bus ride, especially when it stops over at Klava’s patty shop.
Sausage in Exile
  • March 01, 2013

Sausage in Exile

There is a common saying: "If you want to respect laws or sausages, don't watch them being made." Yet in this case (Alef Sausage, in Chicago IL), the more you watch, the hungrier you get.
A Dedication to Dairy
  • September 13, 2021

A Dedication to Dairy

Residents of Voronezh have made us all proud (and a little bit jealous) by setting the Russian record for eating the most sweet cottage cheese-based desserts in one day. 
Dear Cheese
  • July 13, 2021

Dear Cheese

Is there anything that could make cheese any better than it already is? A new patent in cheese-making with an unusual ingredient is attempting to do just that. 
When Well-Oiled, Skip the Fat
  • June 16, 2021

When Well-Oiled, Skip the Fat

If you enjoy a hefty pour (or three!), you might think twice about what you consume to offset the effects of a night of drinking.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

Marooned in Moscow
May 01, 2011

Marooned in Moscow

This gripping autobiography plays out against the backdrop of Russia's bloody Civil War, and was one of the first Western eyewitness accounts of life in post-revolutionary Russia. Marooned in Moscow provides a fascinating account of one woman's entry into war-torn Russia in early 1920, first-person impressions of many in the top Soviet leadership, and accounts of the author's increasingly dangerous work as a journalist and spy, to say nothing of her work on behalf of prisoners, her two arrests, and her eventual ten-month-long imprisonment, including in the infamous Lubyanka prison. It is a veritable encyclopedia of life in Russia in the early 1920s.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955